CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 44 Stimpson Avenue
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and reviewed, safeguarding systems were effective, medicines were managed safely and there were enough suitable staff. Staff understood people's triggers and how to respond to risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before moving in and reviewed when they changed. Staff had completed mandatory and specialist training, and people were supported with nutrition, healthcare and consent decisions.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed to be patient, kind and gentle. People were encouraged to do what they could for themselves, involved in care planning and supported to maintain important relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care and activities were personalised to each person. Staff used easy-read, pictures and personalised information to support communication, and relatives knew how to raise concerns.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found regular reviews, audits, staff meetings and handovers. The manager was involved in the home, staff understood their roles and the service worked with health and social care professionals.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection in March 2019. One inspector reviewed care and medicine records, staff files, training and management records. They spoke with relatives and staff, but could not speak directly with people living at the home because of their complex needs.
The home was supporting three people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors found that people were safe, received appropriate medicines and healthcare, and were supported by enough trained staff. Care plans described people's needs, preferences and risks in detail.
Inspectors saw staff treating people with patience, kindness and respect. People were supported to make choices, maintain relationships, take part in activities and work towards personal goals. Relatives gave very positive feedback about the care.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection, published in September 2016. The report says the CQC will continue to monitor the home and inspect it under its usual schedule for services rated Good.
Risk management
The home had detailed guidance for risks and behaviours that could cause harm. Staff understood individual triggers, response techniques and motivators.
“Risks to people were regularly assessed, reviewed and safely managed.” from the report
Skilled staff
There were enough staff, recruitment checks had been completed and staff had both general and specialist training for the people they supported.
“People could be confident that staff were trained to support them” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff speaking calmly, supporting independence and respecting privacy. Relatives also described the care as excellent and person-centred.
“Staff were patient, kind and gentle, talking in a low voice as per people's preference.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans, keyworker meetings and individual activities helped people have choice and work towards their own goals.
“Each person had their own daily tasks to complete, which supported them to have control over the activity.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home used audits, staff meetings, handovers and regular reviews to monitor care and identify changes.
“We saw evidence of audits completed for a range of checks including care plans, medication administration charts and daily notes.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and manage my relative's individual risks, triggers and behaviours?
- 02What specialist training have staff completed for my relative's needs, and how is their competence checked?
- 03How would you help my relative communicate choices and understand information, including during healthcare appointments?
- 04How would my relative be involved in care planning, keyworker meetings and decisions made in their best interests?
- 05What activities, relationships and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, although inspectors could not speak directly with people living at the home because of their complex needs. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 April 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, September 2016
44 Stimpson Avenue was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support, but records needed better organisation.
This was an unannounced inspection on 10 and 17 August 2016. One inspector visited the home, observed care, spoke with relatives, staff, managers and healthcare professionals, and reviewed care plans, staff files, training records, rotas, meeting minutes and audits.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training, positive relationships and care plans that reflected people's needs, choices and interests.
The Well-led rating was Requires Improvement. Records about people's care and the running of the home were disorganised and not always easy to find. The overall Good rating means the main areas inspected met the expected standard, but management needed to improve record keeping.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and support activities safely. Medicines were stored, given, recorded and disposed of safely.
“There were appropriate arrangements in place for the management of medicines.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans described people's communication, preferences, routines and support needs. Staff adapted support as people's needs and confidence changed.
“People had comprehensive care plans in place which detailed everything staff supporting them needed to know.” from the report
Kind and respectful support
Staff were patient and reassuring, and understood how people communicated and what caused anxiety. People's privacy, dignity and choices were respected.
“There was a calm, relaxed and positive atmosphere throughout the home which focussed on people's individual needs.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to follow their interests, take part in activities and develop daily living skills. Staff encouraged people to make choices and be as independent as possible.
“People were supported to achieve their goals and were encouraged to be as independent as possible.” from the report
Family communication
Relatives were encouraged to give feedback and choose how involved they wanted to be. The management team acted on feedback when needed.
“Relatives told us that the management team were responsive to their ideas and suggestions and they felt listened to.” from the report
Disorganised records
needs fixingSome care, staff and training records were difficult to locate or were not stored together. This led to a Requires Improvement rating for Well-led.
“Records relating to people and the running of the service were not always accessible and were disorganised.” from the report
Incomplete recording of staff checks
needs fixingThe home allowed new staff to start when they had good references and an older DBS check. Although managers had considered the risks, they had not recorded those assessments.
“The manager could adequately explain the risk assessment they had considered in relation to each member of staff, and could evidence that a DBS had been applied for, however they had not recorded the risk assessment they had completed.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make care plans, staff files and training records easier to find and keep up to date?
- 02How are risks recorded when a new staff member starts work before a new DBS check is completed?
- 03How will you make sure people's care plans remain accurate and duplicate documents are removed?
- 04How are relatives involved in care reviews and kept informed about important changes?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels provide the one-to-one or two-to-one support each person needs?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions and reviewing care, staffing, medicines, records and management systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 September 2016 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 44 Stimpson Avenue
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 December 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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of West Northamptonshire
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 £1,280 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“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.”
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.