CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Atfield House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines management and effective infection prevention procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly personalised and supported people's choices, independence and relationships. Inspectors also found meaningful activities, effective communication support and high-quality end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers promoted an open, person-centred culture and staff felt supported. The home used audits, feedback and lessons from incidents to improve care.
What inspectors found, September 2023
Atfield House rated Good; inspectors found safe, well-led care and exceptionally responsive support.
Inspectors made an unannounced focused inspection visit on 16 May 2023. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management information.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines procedures, suitable safeguarding systems and effective infection control. People and relatives said they felt safe, and staff knew how to respond to concerns.
Responsive was rated Outstanding, improving from Good at the previous inspection. Inspectors found highly personalised care, meaningful activities, strong support for communication and thoughtful end of life care. The overall rating remained Good.
Personalised care
Staff worked with people to set individual goals and support their independence. Care plans reflected people's wishes from admission through to end of life care.
“The provider ensured people received care that was highly person centred and met their individual needs and preferences.” from the report
End of life support
People's end of life wishes were recorded and followed. Staff received specialist training, and relatives were supported with practical help and space to stay close to their loved one.
“This helped ensure the person was cared for in a dignified way, according to their wishes and was able to spend their last moments in a familiar and friendly environment with their loved ones.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, safe recruitment checks and appropriate medicines records. Staff received training and medicines competency checks.
“Medicines were managed safely, and the provider had a medicines policy and procedure in place.” from the report
Residents' meetings
minorPeople said residents' meetings took place, but none had been held recently. Families may wish to ask how residents' views are currently gathered and acted on.
“People confirmed residents' meetings were held but noted none had been held recently.” from the report
- 01How will you meet my relative's individual goals, interests and preferences?
- 02How would you support my relative if they have difficulty speaking, hearing or understanding information?
- 03How are residents' views currently collected, given that no residents' meeting had been held recently?
- 04What end of life care training do staff receive, and how would you follow my relative's wishes?
- 05How do you make sure staffing levels and call-bell response times meet people's needs at busy times?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Responsive and Well-led only; the Effective and Caring ratings from the previous inspection were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 September 2023 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, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection-control arrangements during a targeted COVID-19 inspection.
Inspectors visited the home on 28 February 2022. They gave 24 hours' notice and checked infection prevention, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
They found good arrangements for visitor testing, vaccinations and protective equipment. Staff used PPE correctly, the home was clean, and cleaning, testing and isolation procedures were in place.
The home was marked 'Inspected but not rated'. This was not a full inspection of all aspects of care, so it does not provide ratings for the quality of care overall.
Visitor infection controls
Visitors had to complete lateral flow testing, provide vaccination evidence where required and use PPE appropriately. The home also identified essential care givers and supported visiting in people's rooms.
“The provider had procedures for visitors to help ensure infection was controlled and prevented.” from the report
Correct PPE use
Inspectors saw staff using and disposing of PPE correctly. Staff had infection-control training and competency checks.
“We observed staff wearing and disposing of PPE correctly.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean, with enhanced cleaning procedures, recorded cleaning schedules and monthly infection-control audits.
“We observed the home was clean and the provider followed enhanced cleaning procedures.” from the report
Testing and outbreak response
People and staff took part in regular testing. The home supported isolation and responded appropriately when people tested positive, sharing information with relevant agencies.
“The provider responded appropriately to people with positive test results.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing staffing pressures now, and did COVID-19 staffing pressures affect people's care?
- 02What are your current rules for visitors, essential care givers, testing and PPE?
- 03How do you support people who need to isolate after admission or a positive test?
- 04When was the last infection-control audit, and what actions followed from it?
- 05What are the current ratings for caring, effective care, responsiveness and leadership, as these areas were not assessed in this report?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 March 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 Atfield House
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Good
- September 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014Inspected but not rated
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hounslow
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 £1,270 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
“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.”
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.