CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Astbury Manor Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including PPE, testing, visiting, admissions, hygiene and outbreak prevention. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection, although inspectors noted local infection control audits and work with local organisations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Astbury Manor Care Home: targeted infection control inspection found good COVID-19 safeguards, but the service was inspected and not rated.
The CQC visited on 9 February 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
Inspectors found sufficient protective equipment, very clean premises and well-stocked hand hygiene points. They were assured that the home was managing visitors, testing, admissions, distancing, protective equipment and infection outbreaks safely.
The home checked vaccination status and lateral flow tests for health and social care professionals before entry. Essential caregivers were supported to remain part of people's lives, with risk assessments and testing in place.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report therefore does not give a rated judgement on the home's overall quality or on most of the five questions.
Clean environment
The building was very clean, with intensive cleaning recorded and extra cleaning in areas where infection could spread easily.
“All areas of the building were very clean.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements for PPE, testing, social distancing, admissions and managing outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Visitor checks
Health and social care professionals had their vaccination status and lateral flow test checked before entering the main building.
“The service ensured that health and social care professionals had their COVID-19 vaccination status and lateral flow test checked before entry to the main building.” from the report
Support for essential caregivers
The home encouraged essential caregivers to remain involved in people's lives and used risk assessments and testing.
“Essential caregivers were fostered and encouraged to be part of people's lives.” from the report
Record keeping
Vaccination records for staff were described as detailed, accurate and easy to understand.
“Records regarding staff vaccinations were detailed, accurate, easy to interpret and showed only those eligible to work at the service were employed.” from the report
Further development suggested
minorInspectors signposted the provider to resources to develop its approach. The report does not explain what specifically needed further development.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01How are COVID-19-related staffing pressures currently affecting staffing levels and care?
- 02Are visitors and visiting professionals still subject to the checks and testing described in the report?
- 03How are infection control audits carried out now, and what changes have been made as a result?
- 04How are essential caregivers supported to remain involved in residents' lives?
- 05What resources did the CQC suggest the home use to develop its approach?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 February 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.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but the environment for people living with dementia needed improvement.
This was an unannounced first inspection on 24 and 25 July 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care, activities and lunch, and checked care plans, medicines, staff files, training records, complaints and safety documents.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, caring, responsive and well-led were all rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practices, personalised care, respectful relationships, activities and systems for checking quality.
Effective was rated Requires Improvement. The home was clean and well maintained, and staff were trained, but the first floor had few features to help people with dementia find their way around, manage sensory loss or remain independent. The provider was asked to research and apply best practice in this area.
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw caring and respectful relationships. Staff listened to people and supported them in ways that reflected their known wishes.
“There were excellent relationships between staff and people, with staff putting people at the centre of their care.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's needs, wishes and preferences. They were reviewed monthly or when people's needs changed.
“People received care and support that was personalised to meet their individual needs.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could choose from varied activities and were supported to maintain important relationships and links with local communities.
“People had access to a varied activity schedule.” from the report
Safe care
Inspectors found risk assessments, suitable recruitment checks, enough staff and safe medicines arrangements.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people's care needs and medicines were stored and handled correctly.” from the report
Dementia-friendly environment
needs fixingThe first floor had few adaptations to help people living with dementia find their way around, identify facilities, manage sensory loss or remain independent. The provider was asked to research and implement best practice.
“However, the rest of the first floor had minimal adaptations for people living with dementia.” from the report
- 01What improvements have been made to the first floor for people living with dementia, including signs, colour contrasts and way-finding?
- 02How do the current staffing levels compare with the vacancies noted in the report, and how often are agency staff now used?
- 03Who is the registered manager now, and was the new manager's registration with CQC completed?
- 04How do you check that care plans are updated promptly when a person's needs or independence change?
- 05How do you support people who do not want, or cannot join, organised activities?
This was an unannounced first inspection covering all five key questions, the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 August 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 Astbury Manor Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 July 2017.
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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81 live-in carers within about an hour of Bracknell Forest
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 £1,300 a week. 74 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
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.