CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Athlone House Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and that risks were assessed and reviewed. Medicines, infection control, recruitment and accident reporting were also found to be managed safely, although some people reported long waits for help in the mornings.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed before admission and care plans were regularly reviewed. Staff had training and supervision, people received suitable food and drink, and staff worked with healthcare professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors observed staff treating people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions about their care and their equality, privacy and independence were supported.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised to people's complex nursing needs, communication needs and preferences. People were supported with activities, relationships, complaints and end-of-life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found visible and approachable leadership, a positive staff culture and effective checks on care quality. The home used feedback, audits and learning from incidents to improve care.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but some people reported long waits for help in the mornings.
This was an unannounced inspection on 17 October 2023. The inspection team spoke with six people, five visiting relatives and a GP. They observed care, checked six people's records, medicines, staff training, audits, the building and infection control.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough qualified staff overall, safe medicines systems, suitable premises, person-centred care and good support for people with complex nursing and end-of-life needs.
A few people said staffing did not always feel adequate in the mornings. One person said they had waited more than an hour for help after pressing the call bell. The report did not record any breaches of regulations or enforcement action.
Personalised care
Inspectors found that care plans reflected each person's needs, choices and preferences. Their observations matched the written care plans.
“Our observations in all areas confirmed that care and support was completely person centred.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff were observed giving people time, attention and reassurance. They protected privacy during personal care and encouraged independence.
“We observed staff consistently treating people with dignity and respect.” from the report
Safe medicines
Qualified nurses administered medicines. Records were up to date and the electronic system and audits helped reduce the risk of errors.
“The service had a robust auditing system, which provided assurances that medicines were being given safely and as prescribed.” from the report
End-of-life support
The home recorded people's end-of-life wishes and worked with palliative care professionals. Families were also offered support as a person's condition worsened.
“The whole staff team worked closely with palliative care teams and other professionals to provide personalised support to people who were at end-of-life.” from the report
Morning response times
needs fixingA few people felt staffing levels were not always right in the mornings. One person reported waiting more than an hour after pressing the call bell.
“I have been waiting for more than 1 hour... Sometimes it can be longer when I press the button.” from the report
- 01How many staff and qualified nurses are on duty in the mornings, and how do you monitor response times to call bells?
- 02How would you meet my relative's particular nursing needs if they require palliative care, a feeding tube or a syringe driver?
- 03How are care plans reviewed when a person's health, choices or communication needs change?
- 04What individual activities and one-to-one support are available for someone who cannot leave their room or bed?
- 05How will the home involve our family in end-of-life decisions and keep us informed about changes in health?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions; the previous inspection in 2018 had also rated all five areas Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 November 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control during this COVID-19 review.
The CQC visited the home on 9 February 2022 with less than 24 hours' notice. This was a targeted inspection after a COVID-19 outbreak. It looked mainly at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures.
Inspectors found clear visitor safety procedures, including screening and a negative lateral flow test before entry. They found the home clean and hygienic, and saw staff using protective equipment correctly.
The home had outbreak plans, regular testing, infection control training and audits. Staff said they felt supported and had been kept updated during the pandemic.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating, and it does not provide a full assessment of all areas of care.
Safe visiting arrangements
Visitors had to complete screening and show a negative lateral flow test. Relatives were also given information about visiting and essential care giver arrangements.
“There were clear procedures in place to ensure visitors could enter the home safely, with a requirement to complete a screening questionnaire and to provide a negative lateral flow device (LFD) COVID-19 test before entering the home.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, hygienic and free from unpleasant smells. Cleaning guidance included extra measures for an outbreak.
“The home was very clean, hygienic and free from odour.” from the report
PPE and testing
The home checked its supplies of protective equipment, provided infection control training and took part in regular COVID-19 testing.
“The provider carried out regular stock checks to ensure there were sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the home.” from the report
Supported staff
Staff had access to wellbeing support and were kept updated about changes during the pandemic. Infection control was discussed in team meetings and checked through audits.
“Staff told us they felt supported in their role and had been kept regularly updated with any changes throughout the pandemic.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, and how do they differ from those described in February 2022?
- 02How are current staffing pressures being managed, and could they affect people's care?
- 03What are the current rules for visiting, testing and becoming an essential care giver?
- 04How often are PPE use, cleaning and infection control practice checked now?
- 05What changes were made after the home's recent COVID-19 outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection of the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 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.
Every inspection of Athlone House Nursing Home
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvement
- March 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 August 2015.
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 Westminster
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 £1,300 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
“The interaction she gives my mother is incredible, singing, dancing, taking her to groups, on plenty of walks which mum always loves.”
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.