CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 183 Ashby Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe and happy. Staff understood safeguarding, risk management, medicines and emergency procedures, and there were enough staff available.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's physical, mental health and social needs were assessed and reviewed. Staff received training and supervision, and people had access to healthcare and support with food and exercise.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw kind and positive relationships between people and staff. People were involved in decisions about their care, treated with dignity and supported to become more independent.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's preferences, health changes and personal goals. People were supported with communication, activities, family contact and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Quality checks were used to identify and improve care, and people and staff were involved in decisions. However, a registered manager was not in post during the inspection, although recruitment was under way.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but no registered manager was in post at the visit.
This was a planned inspection on 15 October 2019. One inspector spoke with two people, a relative and five staff members. They also observed care and checked care records, medicines records, recruitment records and quality checks.
Inspectors found people were safe and supported by enough staff. Medicines were given safely, risks were assessed, and staff knew how to respond to abuse or emergencies. People had access to healthcare, healthy food, activities and support to make choices and build independence.
The care was described as kind, respectful and tailored to each person. The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was unchanged from the previous Good rating published in May 2017.
Safe medicines support
Staff were trained and assessed as competent to give medicines. The provider also checked for possible errors and monitored medicines given when needed.
“People received their medicines safely. Staff members had been trained in the safe administration of medicines and were assessed as competent before supporting people.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw warm, positive interactions. People spoke enthusiastically about the staff who supported them.
“We saw many positive interactions between people and staff members.” from the report
Choice and independence
People helped shape their care, chose activities and meals, and were supported with household tasks and other skills.
“People were supported to develop their independence.” from the report
Personalised communication
Information and communication were adapted to people's needs, including the use of gestures and pictures.
“People had information presented in a way that they found accessible and in a format that they could easily comprehend.” from the report
No registered manager in post
minorThere was no registered manager for the home at the time of the visit. Day-to-day management was provided through an interim arrangement while recruitment took place.
“A registered manager was not in post at the time of this inspection.” from the report
- 01Has a registered manager now been recruited and registered for the home?
- 02How are medicines given when needed monitored and reviewed with medical professionals?
- 03How are people's personal goals and achievements recorded and reviewed?
- 04How will the home support my relative to keep in contact with family and take part in activities they enjoy?
- 05How can my relative or family raise a complaint, and how will it be investigated and answered?
This planned inspection looked at all five CQC questions, and all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 November 2019 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, May 2017
183 Ashby Road was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, and the home remained Good since its previous inspection.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 7 April 2017. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, a relative, staff and the registered manager. They observed care and checked care plans, staff files and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine systems, suitable recruitment checks and staff who understood people's needs, communication methods and choices.
People were involved in their care planning and supported to be independent, use health services, maintain relationships and take part in activities, education, volunteering and work. The home had complaint and quality-checking systems in place.
Consistent support
People were supported by a consistent staff team who knew their needs, preferences and communication methods. This helped staff promote independence and make support personal.
“People were supported by a consistent staff team that knew them well and promoted their independence.” from the report
Personalised care planning
People were involved in writing and reviewing their support plans and risk assessments. The plans reflected how they wanted to be supported.
“People's needs were assessed and support plans where developed with people to enable them to be supported in their preferred way.” from the report
Community involvement
People were helped to follow their interests and build skills through volunteering, courses, work, crafts and other activities in the community.
“People were supported to follow their interests and goals and be part of their local community.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager carried out monthly audits and used action plans to track improvements. People, families and professionals were also asked for their views.
“The registered manager undertook quality audits each month, using the provider's corporate tool to assess the standards of care and support provided.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure my relative's preferred communication method is used consistently by all staff?
- 02What further training has staff received about risk-managed decisions and restrictions on liberty?
- 03How will you support my relative to maintain existing work, volunteering, family contact or community activities?
- 04How are medicines, including 'as required' medicines, checked and reviewed?
- 05How will my relative be involved in reviewing their support plan and risk assessments?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five quality areas, and all five ratings were Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 May 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 183 Ashby Road
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 May 2014.
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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Fees, photos and reviews from families
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Staffordshire
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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.