CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Udal Garth
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risk assessments, emergency plans, staffing arrangements, medicines systems and infection controls were found to be suitable.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found that managers and staff promoted person-centred care, involved people and relatives, and used audits and action plans to monitor quality and make improvements.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and good management, with a focused inspection covering Safe and Well-led.
The home provides personal care for up to eight people with learning disabilities and/or autism. All eight places were occupied during the inspection. One inspector visited on 21 January 2023 and spoke with people, staff and relatives, as well as reviewing care plans, medicines records and management records.
The inspection found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff understood people's needs, risks and distress plans. There were enough staff, medicines were managed safely, infection controls were in place, and the home was clean and well maintained.
The home was also judged to be well-led. People and relatives were involved in care planning, staff knew people well, and managers used audits and action plans to check quality and identify improvements.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only. The other three areas were not inspected during this visit, and the overall Good rating used the previous ratings as well. The overall rating has remained Good since the last inspection, published in May 2018.
Personalised support during distress
People who experienced distress had clear plans to help staff understand possible triggers and provide safe support.
“There were clear plans in place that helped staff understand how to support the person to avoid any triggers for the behaviour and how to help them feel calm again.” from the report
Consistent staffing
Staff turnover was low, helping people receive support from staff who knew them well. Staff responded promptly when people asked for help.
“Staff turnover was low, which enabled people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were managed safely, with staff training, competence checks and regular audits. People were supported to be independent where possible.
“Medicines were managed safely. Staff received regular training and checks of their competence to administer medicines.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors saw staff treating people as individuals, respecting their rights and supporting their choices and interests.
“People appeared comfortable and confident in the service and with the staff who supported them.” from the report
More involvement in preparing meals
minorA manager's audit found that people could be involved more in preparing meals. The home planned to discuss this with people and staff.
“They had identified via an audit that people could be involved more in preparing their meals and planned to discuss this with people and the staff team.” from the report
- 01What progress has been made in involving people more in preparing meals?
- 02How will you make sure my relative's distress plan remains up to date and reflects their triggers and preferences?
- 03How do you decide staffing levels on days when people want to take part in different activities?
- 04How will you support my relative to manage or take their medicines independently where this is safe?
- 05How are relatives involved in reviewing care plans and giving feedback about the service?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 January 2023 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control and found supportive COVID-19 practices.
This was a targeted inspection on 19 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected the home.
Inspectors were assured that the home used testing and protective equipment safely, managed visitors, followed distancing and shielding rules, and kept its infection control policy up to date. They were also assured that the home could prevent or manage infection outbreaks.
The report highlights social stories to help some people consider COVID-19 vaccination, emotional support among staff, and mental health first aid training for the registered manager. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide a full quality rating.
Infection control
The home had arrangements for visitors and professionals to record test results, clean their hands and use protective equipment when entering.
“There was a clear system on entering the service, for staff, visitors and professionals to record COVID-19 test results, wash their hands and put on PPE” from the report
Support with vaccination
The home used social stories to support some people who were initially unsure about having the COVID-19 vaccination.
“Social stories had been created for some people who did not initially want the COVID-19 vaccination.” from the report
Support for staff wellbeing
Staff described supporting each other during the pandemic. The registered manager had also completed mental health first aid training.
“Staff told us the team had offered each other emotional support through the pandemic and become closer as a result.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently check visitors' COVID-19 test results and vaccination or exemption status?
- 02How do you currently provide and check the safe use of protective equipment?
- 03How would you manage an infection outbreak, and how would this affect visits?
- 04What staffing pressures are there now, and how would they affect people's care?
- 05How do you support people who are unsure about vaccinations or whose mental health is affected?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 March 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Udal Garth
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 April 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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10 live-in carers within about two hours of Cornwall
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“He had been a little anxious before she arrived, but has since stated that he would be very happy for her to care for him again”
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