CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Alston House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Alston House was rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, effective care but gaps in fire safety, recruitment checks and management oversight.
This was an unannounced inspection over two days. The inspector spoke with six people living in the home, three relatives, staff, managers and a visiting health professional. They also checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
People generally felt safe and said staff were kind, respectful and caring. Medicines were given as prescribed, staffing levels were sufficient, and people received support with food, drink, healthcare, activities and personal choices. The ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were Good.
The home was not consistently safe or well-led. A bedroom fire exit was locked, a recruitment risk assessment had not been completed after a criminal record check, and quality checks had missed important issues. Two possible abuse incidents had not been reported to the CQC. The overall rating was Requires Improvement.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives described staff as friendly, kind and caring. Inspectors saw relaxed and positive conversations, with staff respecting people's dignity and privacy.
“People said that staff were friendly, kind and caring.” from the report
Medicines and infection control
People received medicines at the prescribed times. Medicines were stored safely, and staff followed infection-control practices.
“People received their medicines as prescribed and they were protected from the risk of infections through staff working practices.” from the report
Good individual support
Care plans recorded people's needs, preferences and routines. Staff responded to requests and changes in people's needs.
“Care plans had information about people's preferences and this covered their life histories and likes and dislikes.” from the report
Food and healthcare
People were offered food and drinks suited to their choices and dietary needs. Staff worked with health professionals and acted on healthcare advice.
“People were provided with food of their choice after staff asked them what they wanted.” from the report
Fire safety
seriousOne bedroom fire exit was locked and the home had not checked whether this was safe. Inspectors said this created a risk to people's safety.
“One fire exit in a bedroom was locked.” from the report
Recruitment risk check
seriousA staff member's criminal record check showed previous criminal activity, but the provider had not completed a risk assessment before the inspection. Action was taken during the inspection.
“The provider had not conducted a risk assessment to show how they mitigated the risk of the person working with vulnerable people.” from the report
Weak management checks
needs fixingSome audits had not been completed, and others had failed to identify important issues such as the fire exit and the recruitment risk assessment.
“However, we saw some audits had not been carried out such as staff training, supervision and staffing levels.” from the report
Possible abuse not reported
seriousTwo incidents of possible abuse had not been reported to the CQC. Managers said they would follow this up.
“However, there were two incidents of possible abuse that had not been reported.” from the report
Complaints and end-of-life planning
needs fixingA small number of complaints had been followed up, but not every complainant received a written reply. Some people's end-of-life wishes were recorded only briefly.
“These had been followed up to rectify issues, however, not all complainants had been given a written reply.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make sure every fire exit is safe, unlocked when required and included in regular checks?
- 02How do you now assess and record risks linked to criminal record checks before staff begin caring for people?
- 03Which quality audits are now completed, and how do you prove that identified problems are fixed?
- 04How are possible abuse incidents reported and reviewed, including reports to the CQC where required?
- 05How will you make sure complaints receive written replies and that people's end-of-life wishes are fully discussed and recorded?
This was the first inspection of the newly registered service under a new provider and it assessed all five CQC key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 February 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.
Every inspection of Alston House
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2020Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 January 2019.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Leicester
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 £1,270 a week. 83 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.”
“Tino was the most wonderfully rounded, empathetic and intuitive person. He not only developed a great relationship with Neville but also had a great working relationship with our existing carer.”
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.