CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Avens Limited
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines management, regular risk assessments and systems for learning from accidents and incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and knowledge. People were supported with their health, diet, consent and contact with health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and respectful. People were involved in daily decisions and their privacy, dignity and independence were supported.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were tailored to individuals' needs and preferences. People were supported with communication, activities and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open and friendly culture, regular quality checks and staff who felt supported. The home worked with other agencies to meet people's needs.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Avens Limited was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care across all five areas.
This was a planned inspection on 17 December 2018. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, recruitment, training, complaints, accidents and quality checks, and toured the premises.
Inspectors found people were safe, with suitable staffing, safe medicines systems and regular risk assessments. Staff were trained and understood people's needs. People were supported with food, healthcare and decisions about their care.
The home provided kind and respectful care. Care plans were personalised, communication needs were considered, and people were supported to take part in activities and use local services. The home was described as well managed, open and friendly.
The home was rated Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection published on 26 July 2018.
Safe staffing and medicines
People and relatives said there were enough staff. Inspectors found medicines were safely managed and records were audited.
“People told us there were enough staff on duty to meet their needs.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff received induction, ongoing training and supervision. Training included subjects linked to the needs of people living at the home.
“Records showed staff received an induction and on-going training to enable them to fulfil the requirements of their role.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people's preferences and supported their privacy, dignity and choices in everyday life.
“Staff had a kind and caring approach to supporting people.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans were written around each person. People were supported to take part in activities and access information in ways they could understand.
“Each care plan was tailored to the needs of the individual and provided staff with detailed guidance on how to support people in the best way.” from the report
Open management
People, relatives and staff said the home was well managed. Quality checks, feedback and incident reviews were used to improve care.
“People, relatives and staff told us they felt the service was well-managed and the registered manager was always available.” from the report
Original building design
minorThe report says the home was not originally designed in line with the values of Registering the Right Support, including choice, independence and inclusion. Inspectors also found that these were encouraged in practice.
“The care service had not originally been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance.” from the report
- 01How will you support my relative's specific communication needs and make sure information is accessible to them?
- 02How will you assess and manage the risks linked to my relative's mobility, road safety or use of public transport?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be available based on my relative's interests and choices?
- 04How will you involve my relative and our family in care reviews and decisions?
- 05What specialist training have staff received for needs similar to my relative's?
This was an announced, planned inspection that looked at the premises and care and gave ratings for all five questions; the previous overall rating was Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 January 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 Avens Limited
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 January 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
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89 live-in carers within about an hour of North Northamptonshire
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.