CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 63 Eton Avenue
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staff understood safeguarding, medicines were handled safely and staffing levels met people's needs.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and regular supervision. People were supported with food, healthcare, communication and decisions under the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed interacting sensitively with people and supporting their privacy, dignity, individuality and communication needs.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were reviewed and linked to people's needs and activities. However, two people's plans were less accessible, and daily records had limited space for detailed comments.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager, regular staff meetings and monthly quality checks. Some monitoring forms lacked space for comments and outcomes, but these were updated after the inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and responsive care, with some records and bathroom improvements still being addressed.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection on 31 October 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, staff and a family member. They observed care and checked care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home supports up to three people with learning disabilities, autism and behaviours that may be challenging. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines arrangements, up-to-date risk assessments and staff who understood people's communication and support needs.
People received personalised care and support. Staff helped people make choices, join activities, eat and drink well, and access health services. Inspectors observed caring interactions and found that people were treated with dignity.
The overall rating was Good, as were all five areas inspected. This was unchanged from the previous inspection. Inspectors noted some improvements were still needed, including making all care plans more accessible and carrying out bathroom maintenance.
Safe care planning
Risk assessments were current and gave staff clear guidance about reducing risks and anxiety. Staff followed this guidance during the inspection.
“Up to date risk assessments were contained within people's files.” from the report
Medicines handled safely
Medicines were stored and administered correctly. Records were accurate, staff were trained and regular checks took place.
“People's prescribed medicines were well managed. Medicines were safely stored and records of administration (MARs) were correctly recorded.” from the report
Kind and respectful support
Inspectors saw staff engaging people in activities and communicating in ways they understood. Privacy and dignity were supported.
“The interactions that we observed between staff and people living at the home were sensitive and caring.” from the report
Support for choice and activities
People were offered choices about food and activities. They were supported to take part in outings, worship, household tasks and other interests.
“People were enabled to discuss and make decisions about activities at regular house meetings.” from the report
Some care plans were not accessible
needs fixingOne person's plan used pictures and easy-read information, but the other two plans were less accessible. The home said it planned to improve them.
“However, we noted that the plans for the other two people who lived at the home were less accessible.” from the report
Daily records had limited detail
needs fixingInspectors found that the format of daily records did not leave enough room for detailed comments. The deputy manager said this would be reviewed.
“However, we noted that the format used for people's daily records had limited space for any detailed commentary.” from the report
Bathroom maintenance was needed
minorThe bathrooms were clean, but some maintenance was required. Quotes had been obtained and refurbishment was planned within three months.
“Although bathrooms were clean, there was some maintenance that was required.” from the report
Quality forms needed more detail
minorThe monitoring forms did not always provide space to record comments or outcomes. The home updated the forms after the inspection.
“Although we saw that actions in relation to monthly monitoring had taken place, the forms the provider used did not always include spaces for comments or outcomes.” from the report
- 01Have all care plans now been changed into accessible formats, including pictures or easy-read information where needed?
- 02What changes were made to the daily records so staff can record detailed information about care and activities?
- 03Was the planned bathroom refurbishment completed, and what maintenance work was carried out?
- 04How are medicines, risk assessments and care plans checked now, and how are actions from these checks followed up?
- 05How are people and their families involved in reviewing care, activities and the running of the home?
This was an announced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions and the overall rating; the Good rating was unchanged from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 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.
What inspectors found, May 2017
63 Eton Avenue was rated Good; inspectors found the earlier legal shortfall on capacity assessments and DoLS applications had been addressed.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 14 March 2017. It checked whether the home had fixed problems found at the previous inspection, rather than reviewing every part of the service.
Inspectors found that applications for DoLS authorisations had been made. Care records included capacity assessments, and staff training on the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS was up to date.
The overall rating was Good. The Effective rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good. The previous Good ratings for Safe, Caring, Responsive and Well-led carried over from the March 2016 inspection.
Capacity assessments
The care records checked included assessments of people's ability to make decisions.
“We saw that assessments in relation to their capacity to make decisions had been made.” from the report
DoLS applications
The home had made DoLS applications for people living there, and two authorisations had been received.
“At this inspection we found that applications for DoLS authorisations for people who lived at the home had been made.” from the report
Staff training
Inspectors found that staff training was current, including training about the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS.
“We saw that all staff members had received training in relation to MCA and DoLS.” from the report
One authorisation was still pending
needs fixingAt the inspection, one person who had recently moved in was still awaiting a formal DoLS authorisation. The home had introduced a process for making future applications before existing authorisations ended.
“However, the registered manager told us that the home was awaiting a formal DoLS authorisation for a person who had recently come to live there.” from the report
- 01Has the pending DoLS authorisation for the person who had recently moved in now been received?
- 02How do you make sure new DoLS applications are submitted before a person's existing authorisation ends?
- 03How often are people's capacity assessments reviewed and updated?
- 04What training have staff completed on the Mental Capacity Act and DoLS, and when is refresher training due?
- 05How do staff support people who have significant communication impairments to express their decisions and choices?
This was a focused inspection of Effective only; the Safe, Caring, Responsive and Well-led ratings carried over as Good from the 3 March 2016 comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 May 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 63 Eton Avenue
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodEffective: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 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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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 74 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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