CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Abbotts Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, well-managed risks and safe medicines administration. They also found the home clean and tidy.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care needs were reviewed, staff training covered people's specific needs, and people received food and healthcare support suited to them. Inspectors found consent and best-interest decisions were handled appropriately.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff interactions were friendly, calm and respectful. People were supported to make choices about clothing, activities and daily life, and to maintain their independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Each person had a personalised care plan covering preferences, dislikes, communication and activities. People were supported to use community facilities, attend social activities and raise concerns.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, good communication and regular quality checks. The provider had introduced new person-centred support and monthly checks of care records.
What inspectors found, March 2020
Abbotts Road was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a few areas still being developed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 31 January 2020. One inspector spoke with staff and relatives, observed the three people living there, and checked care plans, risk records, medicines, staff training and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors saw enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, positive relationships and support for people to make choices, develop skills and use community facilities.
People could not explain their experiences verbally, so the inspector relied on observation as well as relatives' views. Some display boards and pictures were temporarily absent after redecoration, and the home was still developing individual journals and some end of life plans.
Calm relationships
Inspectors saw positive, relaxed relationships between staff and the people living in the home.
“We noted the relationships and interactions between staff and people living in the home were positive and relaxed.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's preferences and supported them with daily tasks, activities, communication and building independence.
“The support focussed on people having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent in line with their plans.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were administered using clear procedures, and records were up to date.
“Records detailing medication administration were clear and up to date.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to take part in activities at home and in the community, including regular outings and day activity clubs.
“People were supported to use community facilities and the transport provided in the home was well used to ensure everyone could participate and make use of community facilities and visit places of interest.” from the report
Displays after redecoration
minorSome display boards, pictures and signs were not yet back in place after redecoration. The home said these would be replaced with people's involvement.
“Due to redecoration that had been completed shortly before the inspection visit we were advised that some display boards as well as pictures and signs were not on display.” from the report
End of life plans
minorNo one was receiving end of life care during the inspection. The detail in some plans varied depending on how much information families had shared.
“The registered manager advised the variation in detail between some end of life plans was dependant upon how much information families had shared.” from the report
- 01Have all the display boards, pictures and signs been put back, and how were the people living here involved in choosing them?
- 02How would you support my relative's preferred communication method and record changes in how they communicate?
- 03How would you support my relative with their dietary needs, including any need for altered food consistency?
- 04What activities, outings and community opportunities would be available for my relative each week?
- 05How would you work with our family to record detailed end of life wishes if they became relevant?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the accommodation and the care provided; all ratings were reviewed and remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 March 2020 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, August 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and the home remained Good since 2015.
The home provides accommodation and personal care for up to four younger adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Four people were living there during the inspection.
Inspectors made an unannounced comprehensive visit on 13 July 2017. They spoke with one person, two relatives, the manager and staff. They reviewed care records, training records, medicines checks, meetings, complaints and quality checks.
They found people were safe, supported by enough staff and given medicines safely. Staff understood people's needs, supported health appointments and respected people's choices, dignity and independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection in August 2015.
Safe staffing
People and relatives were positive about staffing levels. Staff said there were enough people to provide care and support activities.
“There was enough staff to care for people and to meet their needs.” from the report
Medicines safety
Staff needed training and a competency check before administering medicines. Records, storage and senior checks were in place.
“There were clear records of the medicines administered to people, and checks were made by senior staff to assure them people received their medicines as safely as possible.” from the report
Respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their choices, dignity and independence. People were involved in everyday decisions and activities.
“People had built caring relationships with the staff supporting them and were encouraged to make their own decisions and these were respected by staff.” from the report
Personalised support
People helped decide how their care was provided. Their care plans included their preferences, histories and advice from health and social care professionals.
“People's care plans reflected their preferences and unique histories.” from the report
Open management
Relatives and staff felt able to share their views. The home used checks, meetings and action plans to improve care.
“Regular checks were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service, and action plans completed to drive through improvements in the care people received.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you make sure there are enough familiar staff when someone wants to try a new activity or interest?
- 02How often are medicines reviewed, and how are decisions made about reducing medicines when this may benefit the person?
- 03How will you involve our family member and relatives when their needs, preferences or communication change?
- 04How are health action plans kept up to date, and how quickly do you contact health professionals if there is a concern?
- 05How are complaints recorded, resolved and used to improve the care provided?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, carried out on 13 July 2017 by one inspector. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 August 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 Abbotts Road
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 April 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Birmingham
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 £950 to £1,230 a week. 79 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
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“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.