CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Althorpe Residential Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Althorpe Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with one electrical certificate record missing at the time of inspection.
The inspection took place on 3 and 5 April 2019. It was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, a relative, staff and managers. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files, audits, complaints and other documents.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, received their medicines safely, and had enough staff to meet their needs. Staff were trained, kind and respectful, and supported people's health, choices, independence and activities.
Problems found at the last inspection with medicines, infection control and the home's general décor had been addressed. The previous electrical hardwiring certificate could not be found, so the electrical check was repeated just after this inspection. The report says the home continued to be monitored through the CQC's re-inspection programme.
Protection from harm
Inspectors found safeguarding procedures, risk assessments and incident reviews were in place. Action was taken to reduce risks while supporting people's independence.
“People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives said staff were kind and caring. Staff listened, offered reassurance and protected people's privacy and dignity.
“Staff communicated with people with compassion and listened to what people said.” from the report
Activities and personal choice
The home offered varied activities and supported people's hobbies, interests and community links. People could choose where to eat and received information in formats suited to their needs.
“There was an extensive and creative programme of activities provided.” from the report
Quality monitoring
Managers used audits and feedback to check the service and created action plans when problems were found. Staff were supported through training, supervision and appraisals.
“A range of checks and audits were undertaken by the management team to assess the quality of the service provided.” from the report
Missing electrical certificate
minorThe previous five-year electrical hardwiring certificate had been misplaced and could not be duplicated. The electrical check was repeated just after the inspection, but families may wish to confirm that the new record is available.
“We found the record of the previous electrical hardwiring certificate had been misplaced.” from the report
- 01Can you show us the electrical installation check that was carried out after the inspection?
- 02How do you support people living with dementia to choose activities, meals and daily routines?
- 03How are changes in a person's health or behaviour recorded and shared with relatives and health care professionals?
- 04How are end of life wishes recorded, and how can relatives be involved?
- 05How do you review staffing levels when people need appointments, activities or end of life support?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, and both the premises and the care provided were looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 May 2019 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, October 2016
Althorpe Nursing Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, effective care, but safety required improvement because of environmental, infection control and recording shortfalls.
This was an unannounced inspection on 1, 3 and 17 August 2016. One inspector looked at care records, medicines, staffing, training, complaints, audits and the building. They spoke with people living there, a relative, staff, the manager and a health care professional.
People generally received kind and respectful care. There were enough staff during the visits, staff understood people's needs, and people were supported with food, activities, choices and contact with health care professionals. The home followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act when people needed help making important decisions.
Safety was rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found problems with cleanliness, the laundry, commodes, some decoration and one medicines record. They also found that one person's health and dietary records needed updating. The manager took action during the inspection, including starting refurbishment and improving cleaning arrangements.
The overall Good rating means the inspectors found the service was performing well in most areas. It does not mean everything was right. The previous inspection had rated Safe and well-led as Requires Improvement because of medicines problems, and those earlier problems had been addressed.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with dignity and kindness. Staff took time to communicate in ways that helped people living with dementia.
“We observed staff treated people with dignity, respect and kindness.” from the report
Enough trained staff
Staffing levels met people's needs during the inspection. Staff had training in areas including safeguarding, moving and handling, first aid and medicines.
“We saw there were enough staff provided to meet people's needs in a timely way during our visits to the service.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions about daily life, including what to eat, wear and do. Staff encouraged people to remain as independent as possible.
“Staff assisted people in a gentle way to promote their independence and choice.” from the report
Activities and interests
The home provided activities, outings and religious services. People were encouraged to continue with their hobbies and interests.
“People were encouraged to maintain their hobbies and interests.” from the report
Action when problems were found
The manager acted during the inspection to improve cleaning, infection control, the environment and one person's care records.
“The management team took action to address the shortfalls found during our inspection.” from the report
Environment and infection control
needs fixingInspectors found problems including damaged flooring and paintwork, dusty rooms, a difficult-to-clean laundry and unsuitable commodes. Some problems were corrected during the inspection, while refurbishment work was planned or underway.
“We found issues with domestic cover provided at weekends, infection control in the laundry and in relation to commodes.” from the report
Medicines recording
needs fixingThe medicines system had improved since the previous inspection, but one medicine administration record had not been signed after medicine was given. The record was corrected during the inspection.
“A member of staff had not signed a person's medicine administration record (MAR) when their medicine had been given.” from the report
Monitoring nutrition and changing needs
needs fixingInspectors found that nutritional needs were not always monitored effectively. One person's records were updated after weight loss was identified, and the GP was contacted.
“People's nutritional needs were not always monitored effectively.” from the report
- 01What work has been completed on the laundry, commodes, damaged flooring, paintwork and bedroom cleanliness since the inspection?
- 02How is weekend domestic cover now provided, and who checks that bedrooms and shared areas remain clean?
- 03What checks now make sure every medicine administration record is signed correctly and medicines are given as prescribed?
- 04How are people's weight, food and drink intake, and changing dietary needs monitored and reviewed?
- 05How is the new manager checking that the improvements found during the inspection remain in place?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 October 2016 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 Althorpe Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 January 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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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.
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