CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 2a Higham Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment checks, safely managed medicines and suitable risk and emergency plans.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans gave staff detailed guidance about people's needs. People were supported with nutrition, healthcare, staff training and decisions made under the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were respectful and used people's preferred communication methods where possible. Privacy, dignity, independence and confidentiality were maintained.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was personalised and plans were reviewed when people's needs changed. People were supported with activities, holidays, shopping and contact with family and friends.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager used audits, action plans, meetings and feedback to monitor the home. Records had improved since the previous inspection and were found to be consistent and robust.
What inspectors found, January 2018
Avenues South East - 2a Higham Road is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 14 November 2017. One inspector observed care, spoke with one person, two support workers and the registered manager, and reviewed care records, staff files, audits and other documents.
The home supports three people with learning disabilities, autism and communication difficulties. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable risk plans and clean surroundings. People were supported with food, healthcare, activities and relationships.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Care plans were personal and regularly reviewed. The home had good leadership, listened to feedback and had improved its records since the previous inspection.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were stored and given safely. Records showed no gaps or omissions.
“Medicines were managed safely and people received them as prescribed.” from the report
Respectful care
Staff gave people time to communicate and respected their privacy, dignity and choices.
“Staff communicated with people individually in a manner that showed respect.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, communication needs, health needs and daily routines. They were reviewed regularly.
“Each person had an up to date, personalised support plan, which set out how their care and support needs should be met by staff.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to take part in activities, pursue interests, go on holidays and keep in touch with relatives and friends.
“People remained active and participated in a variety of activities and events that met their social and physical needs.” from the report
Improved leadership and records
The previous inspection found weaknesses in record keeping. Inspectors found that records and quality checks had improved at this inspection.
“We found that the registered manager had implemented good quality assurance system and used these principles to critically review the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will staff communicate with my relative if they cannot easily express their needs verbally?
- 02How often will my relative's care plan and risk assessments be reviewed, and how will changes be shared with all staff?
- 03How will you check that medicines, including as-required medicines, are given and recorded correctly?
- 04What support will my relative receive to take part in activities and keep in touch with family and friends?
- 05How will you involve my relative, family members and advocates in decisions about care and best interests?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions and the overall quality of the home; inspectors could not speak with everyone because people's ability to communicate was limited. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 January 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 2a Higham Road
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 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
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
91 live-in carers within about an hour of Medway
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Usha rapidly became 'one of the family' and is sorely missed.”
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
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.