CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Aucklands Care
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, staffing, medicines, fire safety and infection control were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a friendly, open and supportive culture. Audits, incident reviews, staff supervision and feedback systems gave the management team oversight of the home.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Aucklands Care was rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found safe, well-led care, but this inspection only assessed Safe and Well-led.
This was an unannounced inspection on 16 and 17 October 2023. One inspector spoke with 3 people, 5 relatives, 15 staff and 4 health and social care professionals. They also observed care and checked care, medicine, staff and management records.
The home supported 8 people and could support up to 10. Inspectors found enough suitably recruited staff, safe medicines management, suitable infection control and systems to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm.
People were supported to make choices, stay independent and follow their interests. Inspectors found kind and respectful staff, good communication and strong involvement from families and other professionals.
The overall rating remained Outstanding, the same as at the previous inspection in 2018. Safe and Well-led were rated Good at this inspection. The other three ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection because they were not inspected this time.
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make choices, stay independent and take part in activities outside the home. Staffing levels were adjusted so people could visit local amenities when they wished.
“The service supported people to have choice, control and independence.” from the report
Safe care
Inspectors found safe recruitment, enough staff, suitable risk assessments and safe medicines systems. Records for medicines and controlled drugs were complete and accurate.
“Medicines records were complete and matched stock balances.” from the report
Kind and respectful culture
People, relatives and staff described a caring, welcoming home. Staff treated people with dignity and respected their individual communication needs and differences.
“There was a friendly, open, positive, and supportive culture at Aucklands Care home.” from the report
Learning and oversight
The management team used audits, incident reviews and staff feedback to identify improvements. Inspectors saw evidence that learning led to changes, including improvements to fire evacuation arrangements.
“Auditing and monitoring systems were robust. This gave the registered manager and the provider oversight of the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you support my relative's specific communication needs and help them understand information?
- 02How will you review my relative's medicines, including any medicines used when needed or medicines that may cause sedation?
- 03How will staffing be arranged so my relative can take part in activities and visit local amenities?
- 04How do you involve families in care planning and in decisions about changes to care?
- 05How would you support my relative to use the stair lift and leave the building safely in an emergency?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the Effective, Caring and Responsive ratings were carried forward from the 2018 inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 December 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 2018
Aucklands Care was rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally caring and effective support, with Safe, Responsive and Well-led rated Good.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 and 8 January 2018. One inspector reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files, rotas, training and management records. They also observed care, spoke with staff and relatives, and contacted health and social care professionals.
The home supported eight people and was registered for up to ten. It provided a small, specialist service mainly for older people living with dementia. Inspectors found people were safe, medicines were managed properly and staffing levels met people's needs.
Inspectors found especially strong training, personalised care and kindness. The overall rating was Outstanding. Safe, Responsive and Well-led were rated Good, while Effective and Caring were rated Outstanding.
Specialist dementia care
Staff received advanced dementia training and used their knowledge to understand what people's behaviour meant. This helped them support people who had complex or challenging needs.
“All staff had attended this four day advanced dementia course and demonstrated a good understanding of dementia and how to support people effectively.” from the report
Kind and personal care
Staff treated people as individuals and knew their likes, dislikes, life histories and routines. Inspectors saw staff calmly reassure people and help them when they became distressed.
“Staff were kind, caring and compassionate in their interactions with people and very knowledgeable about their histories likes and dislikes.” from the report
Safe medicines systems
Medicines were stored safely and administration records were complete. The home also checked variable doses, allergies, creams and medicines that needed to be crushed.
“Medication administration records were well maintained with no gaps in the records.” from the report
Personalised care plans
Care plans covered people's physical, communication and dementia-related needs. Staff used them to provide consistent care that reflected each person's needs.
“Care plans were in place and were up to date and accurate so that staff provided consistent care.” from the report
Support for meaningful activity
Staff involved people in activities suited to their interests, including art, singing, reading, outings and one-to-one conversations.
“Activities were seen as important in providing meaning and stimulation for people and were individually tailored to people's assessed needs.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient when someone has complex or distressed behaviour?
- 02How are activities planned and provided when there is no dedicated activities coordinator?
- 03What training and safeguards are in place if staff need to use safe hold techniques?
- 04How will you involve my relative in decisions about their daily routine, room, activities and care?
- 05How are end of life wishes recorded and kept up to date with the person and their family?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 March 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 Aucklands Care
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- December 2023Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2018Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 January 2013.
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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37 live-in carers within about an hour of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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 £1,000 to £1,340 a week. 26 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“We could not have managed without her calm, reassuring presence and practical knowledge and skill in caring and supporting both my husband and the family and I.”
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
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.