CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 35/37 Solna Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm, with risks assessed and reviewed. There were enough staff, but inspectors found three recent medicines recording errors that needed action.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and care was delivered by trained staff. The home had improved its work around consent, capacity assessments and best-interest decisions.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to make choices and develop independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed, personal and regularly reviewed. People were supported with communication, relationships, appointments and activities in the home and community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team used checks and feedback to monitor quality and make improvements. Staff, relatives and professionals spoke positively about communication and leadership.
What inspectors found, February 2020
35/37 Solna Road was rated Good; inspectors found caring, personalised support, with some recent medicines recording errors that were addressed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 21 and 22 January 2020. Inspectors spoke with people, staff, a visitor, relatives and professionals. They also checked care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, personalised care, kind relationships and support for people to take part in activities and build independence.
There were three recent medicines recording errors. These were investigated, and extra training and other actions were put in place. The inspection also followed two safeguarding concerns where learning was identified around record keeping and reporting.
Staff know people well
Many staff had worked at the home for years. Inspectors found that this helped staff understand people's needs and provide familiar support.
“People were well cared for by a staff team who had worked with them for many years and knew their needs well.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People appeared comfortable and relaxed. Staff supported dignity, choice and independence in everyday life.
“We observed a homely and welcoming atmosphere in the home. We saw caring interactions between staff and people throughout the inspection.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to attend day centres and appointments, maintain friendships and take part in activities linked to their interests.
“People were supported to engage in a range of activities both within the home and in the community.” from the report
Improved consent arrangements
Since the previous inspection, the home had improved how it followed the law when people could not make particular decisions themselves.
“At this inspection, we found improvement had been made.” from the report
Medicines records
needs fixingInspectors found three recent errors in medicines administration records. The errors were investigated and staff training was arranged, but the family should ask how the changes are being checked.
“However, we identified three recent recording errors on the MAR.” from the report
Learning from safeguarding concerns
needs fixingThe report says there had been two safeguarding concerns before the inspection. Learning was identified around record keeping and reporting concerns to the right professionals, with training arranged.
“Prior to the inspection, we had been informed of two safeguarding concerns where lessons learned were identified for the staff team around record keeping and reporting concerns to the appropriate professionals.” from the report
- 01What changes were made after the three medicines recording errors, and how do you check that records are now accurate?
- 02What was learned from the two safeguarding concerns, and how are staff expected to record and report concerns now?
- 03How will my relative be involved in decisions about their care, activities and daily choices?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 05The home is registered for up to 11 people and is larger than current best practice guidance. How does its size affect residents in daily life?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; the previous overall rating was Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 February 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, September 2017
35/37 Solna Road is rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care, but people's legal rights were not always fully protected.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 1 August 2017. They spoke with people living at the home, staff, managers, relatives and a health professional. They also checked care plans, risk assessments, medicines, staff records, training and quality checks.
The home was safe, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staff were trained and people had access to food, activities and healthcare. People were treated with respect and their care was shaped around their individual needs.
The home was rated Requires Improvement for being effective. Mental Capacity Act assessments had not always been completed to show whether people could make particular decisions, including decisions about their finances. After the inspection, the manager sent evidence that assessments had started.
Safe care
Risks were linked to people's individual circumstances and regularly reviewed. Medicines records were accurate, and medicines were stored securely.
“The risk assessments provided information on how to mitigate risks and keep people safe and were regularly reviewed and updated.” from the report
Respect and dignity
Staff protected people's privacy and dignity and supported them to make day-to-day choices and remain independent.
“People were treated in a respectful and dignified manner by staff who understood the need to protect people's human rights.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's routines, backgrounds, preferences and support needs. Activities were regular and included both group and one-to-one options.
“Care plans were individualised and provided information on people's background and how to support people in a person centred way.” from the report
Staff support
Staff had completed training relevant to the people living at the home and received regular supervision and appraisals.
“Staff confirmed they received regular supervision and appraisals and records confirmed this.” from the report
Capacity assessments
needs fixingThe home had not completed assessments to show whether people could make certain decisions, including decisions about managing their finances. The manager said assessments had started after the inspection.
“People's rights were not always protected under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.” from the report
Checks did not find the shortfall
needs fixingThe home's audits covered several areas but had not identified that Mental Capacity Act assessments were missing. Managers said this would be checked in future audits.
“However, the audits had not identified the shortfalls we found with MCA assessments not being carried out.” from the report
- 01Have Mental Capacity Act assessments now been completed for every person and each specific decision where one is needed?
- 02How do you check that decisions about people's finances are made lawfully and in their best interests where required?
- 03How do you review restrictions such as the locked front door and people not going out alone?
- 04How will your audits identify missing capacity assessments in future?
- 05How are people and relatives involved in reviewing care plans and decisions about care?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including observations, discussions and checks of care, staffing, medicines and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 September 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 35/37 Solna Road
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 March 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Enfield
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 £1,260 a week. 79 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Over the time he spent with them he got to know our parents very well and became like part of the family, even joining in family celebrations.”
“Charity would take Nan on holidays day trips and shopping adventures”
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.