CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Astbury Mere Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found safe staffing, recruitment, medicines management and risk assessments. A small number of pressure mattress settings were incorrect, but this was corrected and daily checks were introduced.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found supportive management, regular quality checks and a positive, open culture. The home sought views from people, relatives and staff and worked with other organisations.
What inspectors found, December 2022
Astbury Mere Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring care, with a few pressure mattress settings needing correction.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 3 and 4 November 2022. Inspectors looked at Safe and Well-led, partly because concerns had been raised about night-time care. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were identified and reviewed, medicines were managed safely, staffing levels were safe, and staff were recruited with appropriate checks. People told inspectors they felt safe.
The home was clean and well maintained. Inspectors saw kind, person-centred care and found that managers listened to people, relatives and staff. A small number of pressure mattress settings were incorrect, but these were corrected immediately and daily checks were introduced.
The other three areas, Effective, Caring and Responsive, were not inspected during this visit. Their ratings, and the overall Good rating, carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection in 2018.
Safe care and medicines
Risks were assessed and reviewed. Medicines were securely stored and administered by trained staff, with suitable guidance for medicines given when needed.
“Medicines were safely managed. Records of administration were maintained and in line with best practice.” from the report
Kind, person-centred support
Inspectors observed that people were not rushed and that staff spent time talking with them. People and relatives said staff knew their preferences and needs.
“We observed a positive culture and caring practices throughout our inspection.” from the report
People felt safe
People said they felt secure. Staff understood how to report suspected abuse and concerns were referred to the local safeguarding team when needed.
“People told us they felt safe living at Astbury Mere Care Home.” from the report
Open management
Staff said managers were supportive and that they could raise concerns. The home used audits, questionnaires and meetings to monitor and improve care.
“Systems were in place to monitor and review the quality of care and experiences of people.” from the report
Pressure mattress checks
needs fixingA small number of pressure mattresses had incorrect settings during the inspection. The settings were corrected immediately and daily checks were introduced, with no evidence of harm.
“During our inspection we found a small number of pressure mattress settings were incorrect.” from the report
Vacancies and agency cover
minorThe home was recruiting to several vacancies. Inspectors found some reliance on overtime and agency workers, although staffing levels were considered safe and regular agency workers were booked in advance.
“This meant there was some reliance on regular staff working overtime or using agency workers.” from the report
- 01How are pressure mattress settings checked now, and how are the daily checks recorded?
- 02How many vacancies are there currently, and how often are overtime or agency staff being used?
- 03What checks are made to ensure night-time staffing remains safe?
- 04How are relatives kept updated about changes in a person's care or health needs?
- 05How does the home act on feedback from people, relatives and staff?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings carried over from the 2018 comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 December 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, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection-control arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CQC visited the home on 19 March 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors found that visitors were monitored, the premises were clean, staff had suitable protective equipment, and new residents were admitted safely with initial self-isolation. They were assured that testing, social distancing, hygiene and infection-control policies were in place.
People said they felt quite safe. Relatives praised the staff for protecting residents and maintaining contact with families, including through Skype.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give an overall quality rating or a standard rating for the five key questions.
Infection control
The home had enhanced cleaning schedules and up-to-date infection-control policies. Inspectors were assured that the premises were clean and hygienic.
“The premises were clean and hygienic with cleaning schedules having been enhanced in response to the pandemic.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff had access to gloves, aprons and face masks, and inspectors were assured that PPE was being used safely and effectively.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Safe admissions
People moving into the home were admitted safely and initially isolated. The home also had measures to reduce the risk of people feeling isolated during this period.
“People who came to live at Astbury Mere were admitted safety and subject to initial self-isolation.” from the report
Family contact
Relatives said staff worked hard to protect residents while maintaining meaningful contact with families during the pandemic.
“All staff have worked hard to protect everyone and maintain as much contact as possible for relatives and their loved ones” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is the home's current process for monitoring visitors and managing infection risks?
- 02How are new residents admitted and supported during any period of self-isolation?
- 03How does the home provide testing and PPE for residents and staff now?
- 04How does the home maintain contact between residents and relatives if visiting is restricted?
- 05What is the home's most recent full CQC rating for areas not assessed in this inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 April 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.
Every inspection of Astbury Mere Care Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 December 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.
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
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Cheshire East
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. 88 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.