CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 78 Polwell Lane
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, safe medicines management, enough staff and clean surroundings. Staff understood safeguarding responsibilities and there had been no safeguarding concerns in the previous 12 months.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before moving in and staff had relevant training. People were supported with communication, eating and drinking, medicines, and access to health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw warm and respectful relationships. People's individuality, privacy, dignity, choices and communication methods were recognised.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care plans were detailed and tailored to each person. Staff supported people to communicate, follow their interests, try new activities and take part in the local community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear values, an open culture and regular checks on care quality. Staff, families and people using the service were asked for their views.
What inspectors found, March 2018
Rated Good overall; inspectors found exceptionally responsive support, with Good ratings in the other four areas.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 8 and 9 January 2018. The inspector observed people, spoke with staff, relatives and a health professional, and checked care records, recruitment records, training and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall. It was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. It was rated Outstanding for Responsive, meaning inspectors found especially strong support for people's individual choices, communication needs, interests and activities.
Inspectors found that people were cared for safely, received their medicines properly, had enough staff support and were helped to access health care. They also found kind relationships, clear care plans and strong efforts to help people live active and fulfilling lives.
The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection in November 2015. This inspection found that the overall Good rating had been maintained, with improvement recognised in the Responsive area.
Individual choices
People were supported to make choices about their care, daily routines, clothes, activities and where they spent their time.
“People were encouraged to make decisions about their care and their day-to-day routines and preferences.” from the report
Rich activities
Staff helped people follow their interests and try new experiences, including holidays, music therapy, sailing and activities in the home.
“People were supported and encouraged to follow their interests.” from the report
Understanding communication
Staff learned how each person communicated and used pictures, objects and electronic aids to help people express wishes and make decisions.
“The staff knew how people communicated.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw calm, friendly and compassionate interactions. Relatives also said they were happy with the care.
“The general atmosphere was welcoming, calm and friendly and people looked happy and relaxed.” from the report
Safe care
Risk assessments gave staff clear instructions. Medicines, staffing, infection control and building safety were checked and managed.
“Medicines were safely managed.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider and manager used audits, visits, feedback and improvement plans to monitor the home and improve people's experiences.
“There was a very effective system of quality assurance led by the provider and registered manager that ensured people consistently received good care and support.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you learn and use my relative's particular way of communicating?
- 02What activities and new experiences could my relative take part in here?
- 03How would you support my relative's specific health, eating, drinking or specialist care needs?
- 04How are medicines checked, and how would you tell us about any medicine-related concern?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in care plan reviews and decisions about daily life?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, including observations, discussions and checks of two care records and three staff recruitment records. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 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 78 Polwell Lane
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 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.
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Fees, photos and reviews from families
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89 live-in carers within about an hour of North 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 £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 12 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.”
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.