CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Albion House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe and inspectors found suitable staffing, risk assessments, safeguarding arrangements and recruitment checks. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable induction, training, supervision and appraisals. People received support with food, drink and healthcare, and the home worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- People told inspectors staff were kind and respectful. Staff knew people's histories, preferences and goals, and supported privacy, dignity, independence and family relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and focused on people's goals. People were supported with activities, education, cultural and religious needs, and could raise complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Staff described supportive teamwork and management. The manager used audits, residents' meetings, team meetings and feedback to monitor care and identify learning.
What inspectors found, April 2018
Albion House was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, caring and personalised support across all five areas.
Inspectors visited without notice on 27 February 2018. They spoke with four people living at the home, staff and the manager. They reviewed seven care records, two staff records, medicines records and records about how the home was managed.
They found clear risk assessments and care plans. Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. People said staff were kind, respectful and available. Staff supported people's health, food choices, activities, independence and family relationships.
The home had suitable staff checks, training, supervision and support. People were involved in their care and could raise complaints. The manager used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor quality. The overall rating and each of the five areas remained Good.
Clear safety planning
Inspectors found that risks were identified and care plans gave staff clear instructions for managing them. People were involved in positive risk taking, such as developing independence with money and activities.
“Risk assessments and care plans contained information about risks to people's care and contained clear risk management guidelines for care staff to follow.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were kept at the right temperature, given at the correct times and recorded on medicines charts. Inspectors found the records and medicine supplies checked were correct.
“Staff followed safe practices for administering, storing and recording medicines given to people.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People said staff treated them well. Inspectors observed staff responding quickly when someone was upset and respecting privacy when entering rooms or discussing personal matters.
“People told us care staff were kind and treated them with respect.” from the report
Personalised activities and goals
The home offered different activities and changed them in response to people's interests. Care plans recorded people's goals, activities and whether they had enjoyed them.
“People's care records included details about their involvement with activities and the level of success they had with them.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager completed regular audits and used meetings and feedback to monitor the service. Inspectors found the quality assurance systems were thorough.
“Quality assurance processes were thorough. The registered manager completed a variety of audits and ensured learning was undertaken from these.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt the care plan to my relative's health conditions, risks and personal goals?
- 02How do you support people to build independent living skills and maintain contact with family and friends?
- 03What activities and education opportunities would be available, and how would you find out whether my relative enjoyed them?
- 04How would you manage any specialist dietary needs or changes in healthcare needs?
- 05How can my relative or family raise a complaint, and how would it be investigated?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led; all five ratings were Good and the report says the previous inspection in January 2016 also rated the service Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 April 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 Albion House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 February 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 Lewisham
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 £1,260 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“Usha rapidly became 'one of the family' and is sorely missed.”
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.