As a leading residential care provider in Bristol, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional care and support to our residents. But how do you know whether the care you or your loved one receive meets the highest standards? That’s where the Care Quality Commission (CQC) comes in. The CQC plays a vital role in regulating and monitoring health and social care services across England, including care homes like ours.
What is the Care Quality Commission?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is England’s independent regulator of health and social care. Its role is to ensure that care services, whether provided by the NHS, private healthcare organisations, or independent care homes like Bernash, meet fundamental standards of quality and safety.
If a service falls short, the CQC takes action, ranging from offering support for improvement to enforcement measures, such as fines or even closing down a service.
The Inspection Process
Like all care providers, we are subject to regular inspections by the CQC. These inspections are unannounced and cover various aspects of the care we deliver. They look at the care home environment, the support residents receive, and how our team works to meet the needs of those living with us.
During an inspection, CQC inspectors:
- Speak to Residents and Families – They’ll speak to residents about their experiences and how they feel about the care they receive. Family members are often consulted too, especially in the case of vulnerable residents who may not be able to fully express their views.
- Review Records – Inspectors review care plans, medication records, and risk assessments to ensure everything is up-to-date and correctly managed.
- Observe Care Delivery—The inspectors observe staff in their daily work, ensuring that the care provided meets residents’ physical, emotional, and social needs.
- Speak to Staff – Inspectors talk to our staff about their roles, training, and understanding of residents’ needs. This helps to gauge whether the team is well-supported and working to the best of their abilities.
The Key Areas of Inspection
CQC inspections focus on five key questions to evaluate a service:
- Is the service safe?
The inspectors check whether residents are protected from abuse and avoidable harm. This includes reviewing our safeguarding protocols, medication administration processes, and how we manage risks. - Is the service effective?
Inspectors look at whether care, treatment, and support achieve good outcomes for residents and if we use best practices. At Bernash, this includes ensuring that our care is personalised, staff are well-trained, and residents have access to the right healthcare professionals. - Is the service caring?
A major part of the CQC’s assessment is looking at how compassionate the care is. Do our staff treat residents with dignity and respect? Are residents supported emotionally and socially as well as physically? - Is the service responsive?
This question examines whether the care provided meets the needs of individual residents. At Bernash, we pride ourselves on tailoring care to each resident’s preferences and needs, ensuring a person-centred approach. - Is the service well-led?
Good leadership is essential to delivering high-quality care. The CQC looks at how Bernash is managed, including how we promote an open, inclusive culture and continuously strive for improvement.
CQC Ratings
Once the inspection is complete, the CQC gives the care home an overall rating based on the five key areas above. The ratings can be:
- Outstanding
The service is performing exceptionally well. - Good
The service is performing well and meeting the CQC’s expectations. - Requires Improvement
The service isn’t meeting the full standards expected but is not inadequate. - Inadequate
The service is performing poorly and immediate action is needed to make improvements.
We are proud of our past CQC inspection results, which reflect our commitment to providing safe, effective, and compassionate care. However, we constantly strive to improve and take all feedback seriously to ensure our residents receive the best possible experience.
How Bernash Care Home Responds to CQC Reports
We view CQC reports as an essential tool for reflection and improvement. Following every inspection, we carefully review the report, celebrate our strengths, and focus on any areas where improvement is needed. While we are proud of our past ratings, we continually strive to provide even better care to our residents.
Our commitment to quality care is at the heart of everything we do. CQC inspections are just one part of our journey, ensuring that we remain transparent, accountable, and dedicated to providing a safe, loving environment where our residents can thrive.
If you’re interested in learning more about our care services or wish to see our latest CQC report, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team at Bernash Care Home. We’re always happy to help!