CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 7-9 Downing Close
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, staffing, recruitment, medicines, infection control and emergency arrangements were managed well.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training and skills. People received support with healthcare, nutrition, hydration and decision-making in line with the law.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions and encouraged to be independent.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and records were updated when people's needs changed. People were supported to communicate, take part in activities and maintain important relationships.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers were visible and quality checks were used to monitor the service. People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the leadership.
What inspectors found, December 2019
7-9 Downing Close was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a reminder needed about recording and reporting incidents.
This was an unannounced inspection on 2 December 2019. One inspector visited, spoke with people, relatives, staff and a health professional, observed care and reviewed care, medicines, training, recruitment and quality records.
The home provided accommodation and personal care for people with learning disabilities. It consisted of three clean, domestic-style bungalows for up to 10 people. All 10 places were occupied during the visit.
Inspectors rated the home Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. They found that people were protected from harm, supported by trained staff, treated with dignity and helped to make choices and stay connected with their community.
The overall rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published in July 2017. The report says the home would continue to be monitored through the usual reinspection programme.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff giving compassionate support and engaging positively with people. Relatives also spoke well of the staff.
“Staff provided kind and compassionate care and support.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's preferences and communication styles. Care records gave staff detailed information about individual needs.
“People received personalised care and support from a consistent staff team who knew them well.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in their care and supported to make choices, use adapted equipment and take part in activities and trips.
“The staff and management team shared values that placed people at the centre of the service and promoted their independence, enabling them to make choices about their lives.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were given by trained staff, with checks to identify and address errors quickly.
“Medicine administration records showed people had received their medicines when they needed them.” from the report
Community links
People were supported to use local facilities, attend church, go on trips and keep in touch with people important to them.
“People had access to their local community.” from the report
Incident records
needs fixingAfter one incident, staff were reminded about recording procedures and the need to report incidents promptly. Inspectors also said the service used lessons from incidents to improve care.
“Following one incident to prevent reoccurrence, staff had been reminded of the provider's record keeping procedures and of their responsibilities to report incidents in a timely way.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure accidents and incidents are recorded and reported promptly?
- 02Who would support my relative to communicate pain, choices or worries if they cannot explain these verbally?
- 03How will my relative be supported to make choices and remain as independent as possible?
- 04How often are medicines, care plans and risk assessments checked and updated?
- 05What activities, trips and community visits would be available for my relative now?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC question areas, with the previous overall rating of Good unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 December 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, July 2017
Downing Close was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some records, feedback and display issues.
This was an announced, comprehensive inspection on 30 June 2017. The inspector spoke with seven staff, one person and three relatives, observed care, and checked care records, staff files, medicines, complaints, accidents and quality checks. Most people could not share their experiences directly.
The home supported six adults with learning disabilities, with space for up to eight people. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable training, personalised care plans and good support with health, food, activities and decision-making. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection in January 2015, so the overall rating remained unchanged.
Personalised care
Care plans described people's needs, preferences and routines. Families and other professionals were involved in reviews.
“Care plans contained information for staff to help them provide personalised care and reflected people's care needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw relaxed relationships and kind interactions. Staff supported privacy, dignity, choice and independence.
“People were supported with dignity and respect and given choices in relation to how they spent their time.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff, recruitment checks were completed and staff were trained to give medicines safely.
“There were enough staff available to meet people's needs and there were no staff vacancies.” from the report
Activities and community links
People took part in day trips, holidays, community activities and hobbies based on their interests.
“People had enough social activities to keep them occupied with day trips out and holidays, and staff supported people with their individual interests.” from the report
One care plan was out of date
needs fixingA person's needs had changed quickly, but their care plan did not yet explain how staff should provide current support. A short-term plan was completed during the inspection.
“their care plan did not reflect how staff should meet their current needs.” from the report
Limited formal feedback
needs fixingThe management team had not recently asked people and relatives for formal feedback to help identify improvements.
“The management team had not sought recent formal feedback from people and relatives to identify where they could make improvements.” from the report
Ratings not displayed everywhere
minorThe inspection ratings could be seen in one bungalow but not the other. Managers said they would make sure they were displayed and accessible.
“We were able to see the ratings in one bungalow, however not in the other.” from the report
Some notifications were missed
needs fixingThe regulator had not received notifications when liberty restriction applications were authorised. The manager said this would be done in future.
“We had not received notifications from them when DoLS applications were authorised” from the report
- 01How do you make sure care plans are updated quickly when a person's health or support needs change?
- 02How do you collect and act on formal feedback from people and their relatives?
- 03Are the inspection ratings now displayed and accessible in both bungalows?
- 04How do you ensure all required notifications are sent when liberty restriction applications are authorised?
- 05How do you maintain consistency when temporary staff are used?
This was an announced, comprehensive inspection covering all five rating areas; the report says the Good ratings remained unchanged from January 2015. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 July 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 7-9 Downing Close
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 April 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.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Solihull
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“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.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.