The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has upgraded the rating of Alice House, a care home in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, from inadequate to good following an inspection in September.
Alice House is a care home which provides care to older people with dementia. There were 23 people living in the home during this inspection.
CQC carried out the inspection to check on improvements they told the service to make following their previous inspection in September 2024 when the service was rated inadequate and placed into special measures. At that inspection, inspectors found seven breaches of regulation.
CQC has upgraded the overall rating for Alice House and the ratings for safe and well-led from inadequate to good. How effective, how caring and how responsive the service is were all rated again as good. Alice House is no longer in breach of regulations and no longer in special measures.
Stefan Kallee, CQC deputy director of adult social care in Somerset, said:
“When we inspected Alice House, we found that the owners had made positive changes. They had recruited a new manager for the home and worked with external consultants to implement a programme of improvements that strengthened processes and increased staffing levels. These changes created a safer home where people received care tailored to their needs and preferences.
“The new registered manager also worked hard to change the culture of the home. Visiting health professionals described how they now enjoyed a much-improved relationship with senior staff, making it easier for them to come to judgements about people’s wellbeing. Relatives told us they now felt comfortable raising concerns.
“Staff told us they felt more supported and this helped them care for people with kindness and compassion. They received training on safeguarding, dignity and respect, and this training helped them better support and care for people.
“We were also pleased to see that staff encouraged people to be independent. One staff member told us they wait to see if people can do things for themselves, and if they struggle, offer help rather than do it themselves in order to promote people’s independence.
“Since our last inspection, the service had increased staffing levels and we could see that this had directly improved the quality of care people received. We saw people enjoying a game of skittles with staff, and one relative told us they’d noticed staff seemed much more available for their loved ones.
“We found that because staff knew people well, they could respond quickly and efficiently so people weren’t left in distress. Care plans included clear information about behavioural triggers and strategies, which helped staff prevent or de-escalate issues and created a calmer environment throughout the home.
“Everyone at Alice House should feel proud of the changes they’ve made and the positive impact these changes have had on the people who call it home.”
Inspectors found:
- Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. For example, the home had a ‘resident of the day’ system when one person was made to feel extra special for the day.
- Staff responded quickly if people were in discomfort or distress.
- Staff encouraged and supported people to take part in activities, for example a singer visited the home every week.
- Staff helped people live healthy lives. For example, they helped people choose meal options and encouraged them to eat and drink.
- The home was storing and administering people’s medicines in a safe way.
- Leaders ensured mealtimes were a social time in the home and staff sat with people to chat.
- Alice House had updated care plans and risk assessments, making the home safer.