CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Upperton Gardens
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff, safe recruitment and safe medicines management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and support. People received help with food, healthcare and communication, and staff followed mental capacity and best-interest processes.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people kindly and respectfully. People were involved in everyday decisions and supported to maintain their privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personal and reflected people's needs, preferences and communication methods. People had access to activities and support to maintain important relationships.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a positive working culture and systems for gathering views, checking quality and acting on issues. Staff understood their roles and the manager understood regulatory responsibilities.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas they assessed.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 02 December 2019. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with two people, two relatives and four staff. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment files, training records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable risk plans and safe recruitment. Staff supported people with their health, food, communication, activities and relationships.
Inspectors saw people treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Care plans reflected people's individual needs and choices. The manager and staff were described as supportive, and the home had systems for checking quality and making improvements.
The previous inspection rating was also Good, published on 16 June 2017. The report says the home would continue to be monitored and could be inspected sooner if concerning information was received.
Personalised support
Care plans described people's individual needs, preferences and communication methods. People and relatives were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“People had person-centred care plans in place which described their individual needs.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make everyday choices and take part in tasks rather than having things done for them. The home followed the principles of choice, control and independence.
“Staff promoted people's independence whilst supporting them. They worked with people rather than doing things for them.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed caring interactions. Staff respected privacy and dignity, including by knocking before entering bedrooms and offering support without giving instructions.
“We observed staff interacting with people in caring and considerate manner.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People took part in activities linked to their interests, such as bowling, meals out, aromatherapy and horse riding. Staff also supported visits and family relationships.
“People had access to and took part in a range of activities which reflected their interests and met their need for social stimulation.” from the report
Health and safety arrangements
Inspectors found enough staff, clear risk guidance, safe medicines systems and suitable emergency plans. Staff also supported people to attend health appointments.
“There were enough staff working on each shift at the home to ensure people's needs were met.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and update the person's care plan before they move in?
- 02How do you support people with their particular communication needs, including non-verbal communication or communication devices?
- 03How will you support the person's independence, daily choices and preferred activities?
- 04How do you involve relatives in care planning and reviews?
- 05How do you decide staffing levels for each shift and adjust them when people's needs change?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC areas, and both the care provided and the premises were looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 January 2020 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, June 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found the home remained safe, caring, responsive and well run.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 2 June 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, the registered manager and other professionals. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, staff records, complaints, incidents and quality checks.
The home supported up to six people with learning disabilities, including people with challenging behaviour and people on the autistic spectrum. Inspectors found people were safe and happy, with enough skilled staff, detailed risk assessments, safe medicines systems and appropriate safeguarding arrangements.
Care was described as individual and respectful. People and relatives were involved in care planning, communication needs were understood, and people were supported with health appointments, activities, relationships and daily living skills. All five areas were rated Good, and the home remained Good since the previous inspection.
Safe staffing and risk management
There were enough staff to support people safely and help them take part in activities. Risk assessments gave staff clear guidance while supporting people's freedom.
“A sufficient number of staff was deployed to support people safely and to meet their individual needs.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff received induction, regular training, supervision and appraisals. The service also provided specialist training for people's particular health conditions.
“People continued to receive care from skilled and knowledgeable staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw caring interactions and found that staff understood how people communicated. People's dignity, privacy and personal choices were respected.
“Staff remained passionate about the care they provided to people and ensured they supported people with kindness and compassion.” from the report
Personalised support and activities
Care plans reflected people's needs, routines, preferences and goals. People were supported to develop daily living skills and take part in activities they chose.
“People took part in activities of their choice which helped them to achieve their potential whilst they enjoyed themselves.” from the report
Good leadership and monitoring
The registered manager was described as visible, approachable and knowledgeable. Regular audits and feedback were used to check and improve care.
“Consistent quality audits and checks on the support provided ensured people received safe and compassionate care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you adapt care and communication for my relative's particular needs?
- 02What specialist training do staff have for my relative's health conditions or behaviours?
- 03How will you support my relative to choose activities, develop daily living skills and maintain relationships?
- 04How do you review risk assessments and make sure restrictions remain necessary and authorised?
- 05How are relatives involved in reviewing care plans and raising concerns?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the report says all five ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 June 2017 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 Upperton Gardens
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.