CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Amber House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective safeguarding arrangements, enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines management. Accidents and incidents were reviewed to identify learning.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff worked with families and health professionals. Staff had suitable training and people had choices about food, drink and healthcare.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people's preferences, encouraged independence and supported family and community relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care records were personalised and regularly updated. People could choose activities, access the community, receive information in suitable formats and raise complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found approachable leadership, positive teamwork and regular checks on quality and safety. Feedback from people and relatives was used to improve menus, outings and activities.
What inspectors found, March 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care across all five areas.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 15 March 2019. One inspector spoke with a person using the service, four staff members, a relative and a health and social care professional. They also checked care and medicine records, staff files and the home's management documents.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, medicines were managed safely, staff were trained, and people's health and nutritional needs were supported.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. They were involved in decisions, encouraged to be independent, supported to take part in activities, and able to see their families when they wished. The home had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, published in April 2017.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and support appointments and social activities. Recruitment processes were also safe.
“There were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs and to enable people to take part in social activities and to attend medical appointments.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff took time to understand people's preferences and provide individual support.
“We observed people were treated with kindness and people were positive about the staff's caring attitude.” from the report
Promoting independence
People were supported to gain skills, make choices and take positive risks. The home helped people use local shops, cafes, restaurants and community groups.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent” from the report
Personalised care
Care records reflected individual needs and were regularly reviewed. People and their relatives could be involved in care planning.
“Care records were personalised to a good standard and reflected each person's individual needs.” from the report
Quality checks
The manager and staff carried out regular checks on safety and quality. Where audits found concerns or trends, action plans were put in place.
“Where internal audits identified any concerns or trends, detailed action plans were put in place and communicated to the staff team.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many people live here now, and how do current staffing levels compare with the needs of each person?
- 02How will you support my relative to build skills, make choices and take positive risks safely?
- 03How are medicines checked, and how would you respond if a medicine error occurred?
- 04How are care plans reviewed when a person's health, needs or preferences change?
- 05What changes have been made since this inspection, and what feedback from people and relatives has led to those changes?
This was a scheduled, unannounced inspection covering the care home, its premises and care, with all five CQC questions rated; the previous inspection had also rated the service Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 March 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, April 2017
Amber House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced inspection on 14 March 2017. One inspector observed care, spoke with all the people living there, the manager and two staff, and reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files, training, rotas, audits and the building.
Inspectors found that people were safe and supported by suitable numbers of trained staff. Medicines were managed safely. People received help with their health, food and daily decisions, and staff treated them with kindness, dignity and respect.
Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences. People were supported to take part in activities, see family and raise complaints. The home had a registered manager and used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor and improve the service.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was unchanged from the previous inspection in November 2014.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found suitable staffing levels, safe recruitment and safe medicines processes. Records showed medicines were given as prescribed.
“We saw that people received their medicines as prescribed and Medication Administration Records (MAR) were completed accurately without omission.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff built trusting relationships and supported people in a calm, person-centred way. People said staff listened to them and respected their dignity and choices.
“When people were distressed staff sat with them, listened to their concerns and provided encouragement and reassurance.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences and guidance about how best to support them. Reviews took place regularly and changes were added without delay.
“When changes to people's needs or new ways of supporting them had been agreed this information was transferred into their care plans without delay.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People were supported to follow their interests and take part in activities such as shopping, arts and crafts, meals out and coffee trips. They were also able to maintain family contact.
“People who used the service were encouraged to take part in a range of activities and follow their personal interests.” from the report
Listening and oversight
People could give feedback through meetings and questionnaires. The home used regular audits covering areas including care plans, risks, health and safety and medicines.
“The registered provider utilised effective quality assurance systems to ensure shortfalls were identified in a timely way and to drive continuous improvement within the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure staffing levels continue to match my relative's needs, including at night?
- 02How are medicines, including as-required medicines, reviewed and recorded for each person?
- 03How often will my relative's care plan be reviewed, and how will their views be included?
- 04What activities and family contact could you support for my relative?
- 05How can my relative or our family raise a concern, and how will it be followed up?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 April 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 Amber House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 June 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
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12 live-in carers within about an hour of North East Lincolnshire
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 £1,350 a week. 10 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
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.