CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 1a West Avenue
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using protective equipment safely, supporting testing, and managing social distancing and safe admissions.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, November 2020
1a West Avenue was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection control arrangements were safe and effective.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 6 November 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good practice. Visitors completed health checks and had their temperatures taken. The home used social distancing, a visiting pod, effective protective equipment and increased cleaning.
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements for testing, safe admissions and managing possible infection outbreaks. The report does not give an overall quality rating.
Visitor safety
Visitors completed health checks and had their temperatures recorded before entering. The home also provided a visiting pod for safer visits.
“Visitors completed a Covid - 19 Health questionnaire prior to their arrival at the home.” from the report
Support during family separation
Staff used a familiar scent to comfort one person who was anxious because they could not see family members.
“The familiar scent provided the person with comfort.” from the report
Family communication
The registered manager kept families updated about their relatives' wellbeing each week.
“The registered manager spoke with people's family members each week to keep them up to date on their relative's wellbeing.” from the report
Cleaning and infection control
Cleaning was increased and extra checks were used to monitor cleanliness and staff compliance with the infection control policy.
“Cleaning schedules had been increased and additional audits had been implemented to monitor cleanliness and staff compliance with the providers infection control policy.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently checked before entering the home, and what arrangements are in place for safe visits?
- 02How do you make sure staff use protective equipment correctly and access testing when needed?
- 03What is the current plan for preventing or managing an infection outbreak?
- 04How often are cleaning checks and infection control audits carried out now?
- 05How will families be kept informed about their relative's wellbeing if visiting arrangements change?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not assess the other four questions or provide an overall quality rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 November 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, January 2019
1a West Avenue was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some work still needed on end-of-life support.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 16 November 2018. One inspector reviewed information about the home, spoke with one resident, one relative, one staff member and the manager, observed interactions, and checked care, medicines and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from avoidable harm, received suitable support with medicines, had their choices respected and were supported to keep in touch with family and enjoy activities.
The report says the home remained Good, matching its previous rating from 19 April 2016. It also noted that staff understanding of end-of-life care was still being improved.
Safe support
Risk assessments were kept up to date and staff could explain how to support people safely.
“People had risks assessments in place that detailed how staff needed to support people to keep them safe and healthy.” from the report
Medicines
The manager checked medicines regularly and staff training was renewed each year.
“The manager undertook regular checks to ensure people receive their medicines correctly.” from the report
Respect and independence
People were treated warmly and their privacy, dignity, choices and independence were supported.
“A relative told us staff understood their family member's right to dignity, independence and respect.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected individual preferences and were reviewed when people's needs changed.
“Care plans illustrated how people's care was reviewed regularly and updated where necessary.” from the report
Family involvement
Relatives received updates and were invited to take part in care reviews.
“Relatives told us they received regular updates, as well invitations to review meetings.” from the report
End-of-life care training
minorThe manager was still working to improve staff understanding of how to support someone at the end of life. Ask what progress has been made since the inspection.
“The manager was working towards improving staff understanding of how to support a person with end of life care.” from the report
- 01What training have staff completed on end-of-life care, and what has improved since the inspection?
- 02How will you review and update my relative's care plan when their needs or preferences change?
- 03How do you support people with their preferred activities, communication methods and contact with family?
- 04How are medicines checked, and how do you make sure staff remain competent to support with them?
- 05How will my family be kept informed and involved in care reviews?
This was an unannounced planned inspection of the whole care home, including both the premises and the care provided, with all five ratings assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 January 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.
Every inspection of 1a West Avenue
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 December 2010.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Solihull
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.