CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Allingham House Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care and clear improvements since the previous inspection, although some decision-making records were not consistent.
This was a focused inspection. Inspectors visited on 5 May 2021 and reviewed Safe, Effective and Well-led. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care records, medicines, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all three areas inspected. Inspectors found people were kept safe, received their medicines correctly, had clean surroundings and got the healthcare, food and support they needed. Staff were trained and knew people's needs.
The home had improved from Requires Improvement at the last inspection, published in March 2020. Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so their previous Good ratings were carried forward into the overall rating.
Safe care
Care plans and risk assessments were up to date. Staff understood people's needs and knew how to report concerns.
“People received the care and support they needed to keep them safe and well.” from the report
Clean and hygienic
Inspectors found very high standards of cleanliness and hygiene. Staff used protective equipment safely and the home had a Covid-19 testing programme.
“The care home had very high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were stored securely, given at the right time and recorded properly. Inspectors noted that medicines management had improved since the previous inspection.
“The service had very good medicines management policies, procedures and practices that had improved further since our last inspection.” from the report
Positive relationships
People, relatives and staff described a warm atmosphere and caring staff. Inspectors observed good rapport and attentive, person-centred care.
“The care home had a warm, friendly and relaxed atmosphere.” from the report
Management and improvement
The home had regular audits, staff updates and feedback arrangements. Managers had identified further improvements, including communication, activities and menus.
“The registered manager showed a strong commitment to ensuring good governance of the service.” from the report
Some decision records lacked detail
needs fixingSome capacity and best-interest records did not clearly explain decisions or who had been involved. The home planned to review records so they were more consistent.
“However, not all records showed the same level of detail and clarity on the decisions made and those involved in them.” from the report
- 01How have you reviewed and improved records about capacity and best-interest decisions?
- 02How will you make sure relatives are involved and recorded clearly when decisions are made for someone who cannot decide for themselves?
- 03What changes have you made to communication with relatives since the inspection?
- 04How do you use people's feedback when planning activities and reviewing menus?
- 05How do you check that staffing levels and staff skills continue to match people's changing needs?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous Good ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 May 2021 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, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control was good during the Covid-19 inspection.
Inspectors visited the home on 30 November 2020. The visit was announced and targeted infection prevention and control because the home was being used for people discharged from hospital with a positive Covid-19 status.
The home had a separate unit for up to seven people with Covid-19. It had its own entrance, lift, staircase, supplies and staff changing facilities. People stayed there until they were symptom free or well, then followed another 14 days of self-isolation if they moved elsewhere in the home.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, supporting testing, managing visitors and admissions safely, and following shielding, social distancing, cleaning and outbreak procedures.
This was not a full inspection and the service was not given an overall rating. The Safe question was inspected but not rated. The other areas were not assessed in this report.
Separate Covid-19 unit
A separate wing was used for people with Covid-19. It had direct outside access and its own supplies, reducing the need for staff to enter other areas.
“The provider had allocated a wing of the home's nursing unit as a designated care unit for up to seven people with Covid-19.” from the report
Testing included agency staff
The home included agency staff in its weekly testing programme.
“The provider included agency staff in their weekly testing programme for staff.” from the report
Infection control assurance
Inspectors were assured that the home met good infection prevention and control guidelines as a designated care setting.
“We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines as a designated care setting.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Is the separate Covid-19 care unit still in use, and what has changed since the inspection?
- 02How are people admitted safely and supported if they need to move to another unit?
- 03Are agency staff still included in the weekly staff testing programme?
- 04How are personal protective equipment, medicines, cleaning materials and other clinical supplies kept separate when infection risks arise?
- 05What are the latest ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led, which this inspection did not assess?
This was an announced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control for the Safe question only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 January 2021 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 Allingham House Care Centre
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2019Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 May 2015.
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 Trafford
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. 91 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
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.