CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at 3L Care Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
3L Care Limited: Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control, but visitor and agency staff checks were not fully documented.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 25 January 2022. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Inspectors found robust COVID-19 policies, good supplies of protective equipment, regular testing and a clean home. Staff were observed using protective equipment correctly, and people and their families were supported to keep in contact.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit looked at specific infection control arrangements and did not give an overall quality rating.
COVID-19 planning
The home had detailed COVID-19 arrangements covering positive cases, staffing, admissions, visitors and protective equipment. These arrangements were reviewed when national guidance changed.
“There were robust policies, procedures and good practices in place to manage risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic which were regularly reviewed” from the report
Protective equipment
There were good supplies of protective equipment and hand sanitiser. Inspectors saw staff using protective equipment correctly.
“The home had good supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff and visitors to use.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic, with regular cleaning schedules and extra cleaning during the day and night.
“The home appeared clean and hygienic throughout. Communal areas and bedrooms were spacious and airy.” from the report
Contact with families
People and their families were supported to keep in contact, including through designated essential carers, visits, telephone calls and video calls.
“People living in the home and their family were supported to maintain contact.” from the report
Incomplete visitor records
minorChecks were carried out before visitors entered, but vaccination and testing information for visitors and agency staff was not fully recorded.
“However, records of vaccination status and testing results for visitors and agency staff should be fully documented.” from the report
- 01Have you now fully documented vaccination and testing records for visitors and agency staff?
- 02How do you check that visitors provide the required vaccination evidence and negative lateral flow test before entry?
- 03What arrangements are currently in place if COVID-19 visiting restrictions are needed?
- 04How often are your infection prevention and control policies reviewed and updated?
- 05How do you manage staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 absences?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 February 2022 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, March 2018
3L Care Limited was rated Good overall, but inspectors found the home required improvement in safety because one medicine cupboard was left unlocked.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 05 March 2018. They spoke with people, a relative, managers and staff. They observed care and checked medicines, staff records, rotas, maintenance records and three care plans.
The home remained Good overall, as it was at the previous inspection. Inspectors found kind, personalised care, skilled staff and good support for people's complex health needs. Care plans were clear and regularly updated.
The Safe rating fell to Requires Improvement. One medicine cupboard was unlocked and contained medicines that people could access. The manager locked it immediately. Some records about consent and decision-making also needed better audit trails.
Kind, individual care
Inspectors saw warm relationships and support tailored to each person's needs, preferences and communication.
“We observed warm, positive relationships with staff providing very individualised support to meet people's needs.” from the report
Staff knew people's needs
Staff were trained and understood how to support people with complex physical, learning and health needs.
“We saw that the staff knew the people well and how to identify quickly when something was wrong and get them the support that they needed.” from the report
Good management checks
The home used audits, staff meetings and other checks to monitor quality and complete actions.
“We saw that these checks were carried out regularly and thoroughly and that any action that had been identified was followed through and completed.” from the report
Unlocked medicine cupboard
seriousAn unlocked cupboard contained medicines that people could access. The manager acted immediately to lock it, but this led to the Requires Improvement rating for Safe.
“We were concerned that this meant that people could be at risk from harm by accessing medicines that were not prescribed for them.” from the report
Consent records needed improvement
needs fixingThe home understood the legal process for supporting people who may lack capacity, but some audit trails about consent and capacity needed updating.
“We did see that some of the audit trails around consent and capacity to make decisions needed to be updated.” from the report
Personal information displayed
minorInspectors found personal information about one person displayed in the kitchen. It was removed immediately.
“However, we did note that personal information was displayed about one person in the kitchen.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that every medicine cupboard is locked at all times?
- 02What changes have you made to the audit trails for consent and capacity decisions?
- 03How do you prevent personal information about residents being displayed where others can see it?
- 04How do you make sure staff remain trained to support residents with complex health and dietary needs?
- 05How are care plans reviewed when a person's needs or communication changes?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises, care, medicines, staffing, records and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 March 2018 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 3L Care Limited
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 October 2011.
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
84 live-in carers within about an hour of Cheshire West and Chester
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. 76 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.