CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 4 Hermitage Lane
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with the home remaining Good in all five areas.
Inspectors visited the home on 13 December 2017. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with staff, managers and relatives, observed how staff supported people, and checked the home, care records, medicines and safety checks.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities who needed personal care. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable staff checks, safe medicines practice, regular risk reviews and a clean, well-maintained environment.
Staff were well trained and knew people’s communication methods, preferences and routines. People were supported with food, healthcare, family contact, activities, independence, privacy and dignity.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, so this rating remained unchanged.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people’s personal needs and support access to the community. Medicines were given on time by trained staff, with complete records.
“There were enough staff available to allow people to access the community and to have their personal needs met.” from the report
Well-trained staff
Staff completed relevant training and received regular supervision. Training included areas such as epilepsy, moving and handling, fire safety and food safety.
“People continued to receive effective care and support from staff who were well trained and effectively supported by the registered manager and provider.” from the report
Personalised communication
Staff understood how people communicated, including through body language, signs, pictures, Makaton and technology. Care records included people’s preferences, histories and routines.
“The service exceeded the requirements of the Accessible Information Standard by utilising a range of communication methods.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People were supported to enjoy activities suited to their interests, including music therapy, hydrotherapy, bowling and church services. Staff also supported important family relationships.
“People were supported to do the things they liked to do and continued to take part in varied activities that met their needs and interests.” from the report
Strong leadership
Inspectors found regular staff meetings, good communication and quality checks that led to improvements. Relatives said they were kept involved and contacted regularly.
“The provider continued to use an effective quality assurance system for monitoring all aspects of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01The report says DoLS applications were in place for all six residents. What is the current position of each application?
- 02The report mentions a medication error and a new medication-key handover system. What happened, and how do you now check that the system is working?
- 03How will you support my relative to communicate choices if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 04How often will my relative’s care plan, goals and communication guidance be reviewed?
- 05Which activities are currently available, and how do you match them to each person’s interests and abilities?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality and safety of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 January 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 4 Hermitage Lane
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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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44 live-in carers within about an hour of Swindon
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 £990 to £1,280 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Linet became her carer and all changed, my daughter started eating, taking her medications and more important her happiness came back.”
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.