CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Ardenlea Grove Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including visitors, admissions, protective equipment, testing, hygiene and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Ardenlea Grove Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements during the pandemic.
Inspectors visited on 3 March 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection looking at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found that visitors were screened, tested and monitored. They were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, following distancing and shielding rules, managing admissions and accessing testing.
The report also described safe visiting arrangements, video calls and activities adapted for the pandemic. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for most care areas.
Visitor screening
Visitors were screened for symptoms, had their temperatures recorded and completed a lateral flow test before visiting.
“On arrival visitors were screened for symptoms of COVID-19. Their temperatures were recorded, and they were required to complete a lateral flow test.” from the report
Safer visiting
A glass-screened visiting pod was used, with a staff member coordinating visits and cleaning the pod between uses.
“A vising pod partitioned by a clear glass screen was in use. This meant people and their visitors were able to spend time together in a safe environment.” from the report
Keeping people connected
Tablets supported video calls with important people, including support for communication through headphones.
“Computer tablets had been purchased to support people keep in touch with others who were important to them via video calls.” from the report
Activities continued
Activities continued seven days a week and were adapted to pandemic restrictions.
“Social activities were provided seven days a week and had been adapted during the pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently screen and test visitors before they enter?
- 02How are visits arranged now, and how is the visiting area cleaned between visits?
- 03What infection prevention measures are currently used in communal areas and for frequently touched surfaces?
- 04How do you manage new admissions and infection outbreaks?
- 05What activities and ways of keeping in touch with family are currently available?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, recorded under Safe; it was not a full assessment of the other four questions or an overall quality rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 March 2021 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, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but some care plans lacked detail and one person was not fully consulted about a sensor mat.
This was an unannounced inspection on 16 October 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They observed care and checked care records, medicine records, risk assessments, quality checks and staff recruitment files.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people felt safe, medicines were managed safely, staff were trained, and people received kind and respectful care. People enjoyed the food and activities, and relatives were welcomed.
The Effective rating improved from Requires improvement at the previous inspection. The other four ratings stayed Good. Inspectors noted that some care plans were still being updated because they did not always contain enough detail, and one person had not felt fully consulted about a sensor mat. The manager acted immediately on the sensor mat concern.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were ordered, stored, given and recorded safely. Staff had training and their ability to administer medicines was checked.
“Medicines were managed safely. Medicine records had been completed correctly to show medicines were ordered, received, stored, and disposed of safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People received care from staff they knew. Inspectors saw positive conversations and found that privacy, dignity, choice and independence were respected.
“People received care from staff they knew and described staff as 'kind' and 'friendly.” from the report
Improved activities
People and relatives said activities had improved. Inspectors found that meaningful activities were now part of the home’s approach.
“Vast improvement in activities. They're very good. Something is on every day.” from the report
Strong leadership checks
Managers used audits and regular compliance visits to identify improvements and check that actions had been completed.
“Quality audits were effective to identify areas that needed improvement.” from the report
Care plans lacked detail
needs fixingSome care plans did not contain enough information to make sure staff provided care consistently. The management team had identified this and was updating the records.
“However, some care plans lacked detailed information to ensure care was provided consistently.” from the report
Involvement in using a sensor mat
needs fixingOne person said they had not been fully consulted before a sensor mat was placed in their bedroom after several falls. The manager acted immediately to address this.
“One person explained they felt they had not been fully consulted when following them experiencing a number of falls a sensor mat was placed in their bedroom to reduce the risk and to keep them safe.” from the report
- 01Which parts of my relative’s care plan are being updated, and how will you check that staff are following the updated information?
- 02How will you involve my relative and family before using sensor mats or other equipment to reduce risks?
- 03What dementia training have staff completed, and how do you check that they can apply it in daily care?
- 04How are activities chosen to match each person’s interests, abilities and cultural needs?
- 05How are medicines checked, and how would you tell us if there was a medicines error?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff and reviewed care, medicine, staffing and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 November 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.
Every inspection of Ardenlea Grove Care Home
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 November 2010.
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 Solihull
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 9 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.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.