CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Amber View Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, and there were enough staff to keep people safe. However, medicines were not always stored safely and staff did not consistently follow infection control guidance.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed, staff had suitable training and people received support with food, drink and healthcare. Consent to overall care arrangements was not always assessed or recorded in line with legal requirements.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors found that people were treated with respect, involved in decisions and supported to maintain important relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and communication needs were clearly recorded. People generally had support with activities and community contact, although the activity coordinator had recently left and a replacement was being recruited.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The provider and managers carried out regular audits, sought feedback and used action plans to improve care. Staff said they felt supported and able to raise concerns.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Amber View Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with improvements needed in medicines storage, infection control and consent records.
This was the home’s first inspection since it registered. It was unannounced and took place on 28 September and 3 October 2022. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff, managers and health professionals. They also looked at care records, medicines, training and quality checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, good safeguarding, personalised care plans, respectful care and effective management. People were supported with food, healthcare, activities and relationships.
There were some shortfalls. Medicines were not always stored at the correct temperature. Infection control guidance was not always followed. Consent and mental capacity records were not always completed as required. The CQC made recommendations for improvement but recorded no breaches.
Enough staff
Inspectors found there were enough staff to keep people safe and meet their needs. Staffing levels were reviewed and increased when needed.
“There were enough staff to keep people safe.” from the report
Respectful care
People said staff treated them with respect and protected their privacy and dignity. Staff also supported people to remain as independent as possible.
“People said staff always treated them with respect, and relatives confirmed this.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's likes, dislikes, communication needs and important relationships. Staff used this information to provide individual care.
“Care plans were personalised and contained information about people's likes and dislikes.” from the report
Good management
Managers used audits, feedback and action plans to monitor care and identify improvements. Staff felt supported and able to speak up.
“The provider and registered manager undertook regular audits of all aspects of the service to review the quality of care.” from the report
Medicines storage
seriousThe medicines room sometimes became hotter than the recommended maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. Records did not show that suitable action or pharmacist advice had always been sought.
“Medicines were not consistently stored safely.” from the report
Infection control
seriousSome staff did not wear masks correctly or follow guidance about bare arms, nail products and rings while providing personal care. Inspectors said this could put people at risk of infection.
“Staff were not consistently following current guidance in relation to wearing masks, or to ensuring arms were bare below the elbows.” from the report
Consent records
needs fixingWhere people lacked capacity to consent to their overall care arrangements, assessments and records were not always completed as required. The provider was working to correct this.
“The provider had not consistently ensured consent to care was sought in line with legal requirements.” from the report
Activities staffing
minorThe activity coordinator had recently left. The provider was recruiting a replacement, so families should check how regular activities are being provided now.
“The activity coordinator for the service had recently left, and the provider was actively recruiting for another staff member to take over this role.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to monitor and keep the medicines room below 25 degrees Celsius?
- 02How do you now check that staff follow mask, clothing, jewellery and nail guidance during personal care?
- 03Have all consent and mental capacity assessments been completed and reviewed for current residents?
- 04Who currently organises activities while you recruit or replace the activity coordinator?
- 05How will you tell families about progress on the three recommendations made by the CQC?
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the newly registered home and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 November 2022 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 View Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- November 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 March 2021.
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
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
75 live-in carers within about an hour of Nottinghamshire
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. 63 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Ernest is an amazing professional carer who delivers care from the heart.”
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.