CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Applelea
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, clear risk assessments and safe medicines arrangements. Staff understood safeguarding, seizure risks and behaviour that may challenge.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff received induction, training and supervision. People had access to healthcare, their dietary needs were met, and staff supported choice and least-restrictive care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed treating people with kindness and respect. They supported privacy, dignity, independence, communication and contact with family and friends.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's histories, interests, communication methods and goals. People were supported to access the community, take part in activities and respond to changes in their needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, good teamwork and effective quality checks. Managers reviewed incidents, sought feedback and worked with other organisations.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with end-of-life planning still being developed.
The inspection was unannounced on 4 September 2018 and continued on 5 September 2018 after being announced. One inspector spoke with a resident, relatives, a health professional, managers and care staff. They reviewed care files, medicines records, staff files, risk assessments, incidents, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, safe medicines systems and staff who understood people's risks. They also found that people were supported to make choices, stay independent, access healthcare and take part in activities.
Relatives and professionals described the staff as kind and caring. The home had a calm atmosphere, personalised care plans and communication support that matched each person's needs. Managers used audits, staff feedback and incident reviews to make improvements.
The overall rating stayed Good, as it had at the previous inspection. Inspectors said there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Staffing levels were reviewed when people's needs or behaviour changed.
“There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed being compassionate and respectful. They protected privacy and treated people as individuals.
“During the inspection there was a calm and welcoming atmosphere in the home.” from the report
Promoting independence
People had personal goals and were supported to build skills, enjoy activities and reduce their reliance on staff.
“Support plans provided guidance as to individual goals for people to work towards to increase their independence and reduce their reliance on staff for support.” from the report
Good oversight
Managers used audits, incident reviews, night visits and staff suggestions to identify and make improvements.
“Quality monitoring systems and processes were in place and up to date.” from the report
End-of-life wishes
minorThe manager was only beginning to explore people's end-of-life wishes and preferences. Families should ask how this work has progressed.
“The registered manager was starting to explore opportunities to identify and understand people's end of life wishes and preferences.” from the report
Fire door practice
needs fixingA previous night check found that staff needed reminding not to wedge open a laundry fire door. The report says this was addressed.
“At the last visit actions included reminding night staff not to wedge the laundry door open as it was a fire door.” from the report
- 01How are my relative's end-of-life wishes recorded, discussed and reviewed now?
- 02What happened with the outstanding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards assessment?
- 03How would you change staffing if my relative's needs or behaviour changed?
- 04How would staff communicate with my relative using their preferred method?
- 05How do you make sure fire doors and other safety checks are followed during night shifts?
This inspection looked at the overall service and all five CQC questions; the report says the Good rating continued from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 October 2018 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 Applelea
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 February 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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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.