CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Avalon Park Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 7 January 2022. Inspectors gave the home 24 hours' notice and looked at infection prevention, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care.
Inspectors found policies for managing COVID-19 were comprehensive and regularly updated. There was regular testing, screening for visitors, enough protective equipment and good cleaning arrangements.
People were supported to keep in touch with relatives and essential carers. The home had visiting plans and could arrange visits safely, including through a visiting booth.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a formal overall quality rating from this visit.
Infection control planning
The home had detailed arrangements for managing COVID-19, including positive diagnoses, and updated them when national guidance changed.
“The home had comprehensive policies and procedures to manage any risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.” from the report
Contact with relatives
People had contact and visiting plans. The home supported contact through visits, telephone calls and FaceTime.
“Each person living at the home had a contact and visitors plan in place.” from the report
Testing and screening
Regular testing was in place for people living in the home, staff, essential carers and visitors. Visitors were screened before entering.
“A programme of regular COVID-19 testing for both people in the home, staff, essential carers and visitors to the home was implemented.” from the report
PPE and cleaning
Inspectors found enough protective equipment, accessible hand sanitiser, correct PPE use and daily cleaning schedules.
“There was an ample supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff and any visitors to use.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are COVID-19-related staffing pressures being managed now, and what effect do they have on people's care?
- 02How are visits arranged now, including visits from essential carers and visits when someone has COVID-19?
- 03How often are people living in the home and staff tested, and what happens after a positive result?
- 04How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the COVID-19 vaccination requirements or have an exemption?
- 05How are residents supported to keep in touch with relatives who cannot visit in person?
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 28 January 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 2019
Avalon Park Care Home was rated Good overall, but inspectors found that personal care standards needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 8 and 9 July 2019. Inspectors spoke with seven people living at the home, three relatives and staff. They also checked care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for being safe, effective, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practices, good infection control and suitable support with health needs. People were supported to make choices, and activities were available.
The caring rating was Requires Improvement. Some people were unshaven or had dirty fingernails, and records did not always show that personal care had been given. The manager took immediate action during the inspection, but inspectors said they could not be sure everyone had received the right level of personal care.
Enough staff
Inspectors found that staffing levels were sufficient and that staff usually responded promptly when people needed help.
“At this inspection we found there were no problems with staffing levels.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained and checked for competency. Inspectors observed medicines being given safely and respectfully.
“We observed a member of staff giving out medicines and found their practice was safe.” from the report
Supportive activities
The home had two activities coordinators and offered activities and social events linked to people's interests.
“There were two dedicated activities coordinators who presented a range of activities and social events at the home.” from the report
Open management
The manager was visible and approachable. Regular meetings and audits were used to share information and monitor the service.
“There was an 'open door' management approach which meant the registered manager was easily available to staff, residents and relatives.” from the report
Personal care was not always completed
needs fixingInspectors saw some people with unclean hair, dirty fingernails or unshaven faces. Personal care records, including oral care records, were not always completed.
“We found the records had not always been completed.” from the report
Personal presentation
needs fixingSeveral relatives raised concerns about personal care, and inspectors saw that some people were not well presented.
“During the first day of our inspection we noticed that some people had rather unclean looking hair and some had long, dirty finger nails.” from the report
Garden paving
minorSeveral paving stones were uneven, including one that moved when stood on. The area was accessible to people at some times during the day.
“We noticed several uneven paving stones in the garden area, one of which wobbled when stood on; the area was freely accessible to people at points throughout the day.” from the report
Wayfinding and rest areas
minorThe home did not have clear pictorial signs or rest stops along the corridors. Inspectors said this could make finding the way around harder for people with dementia or mobility difficulties.
“There were no 'rest stops' along any of the corridors, to support people with mobility difficulties when moving around the building.” from the report
- 01How do you now check that shaving, nail care and oral care are completed for each person?
- 02How are personal care records checked, and what happens if a record is missing?
- 03What changes have been made to the uneven garden paving?
- 04What improvements have been made to signs and information for people with dementia?
- 05What is the current position on the safeguarding concern that was still being investigated by the local authority?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, with the home and the care provided both looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 August 2019 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 Avalon Park Care Home
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017Goodup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: InadequateResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- May 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 October 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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