CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Blackwell Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that the person was protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, medicines, staffing, infection control and incidents were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, clear management arrangements and quality checks covering areas such as care plans, medicines, infection control and staffing.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Blackwell Road is rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and strong management, with the inspection focused on safety and leadership.
Inspectors visited on 25 October 2023. They spoke with the person living at the home, relatives, support workers, managers and the person's GP. They also checked care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The person was supported to stay safe while making choices and living as independently as possible. Inspectors found that staff understood the person's needs, managed medicines safely, followed risk plans and supported an active life in the local community.
The home had a consistent staff team and a positive culture. Management systems checked care, medicines, infection control and staffing. The overall rating was Good, which was the same as at the previous inspection in November 2018.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only. The other three question ratings were not reassessed and the previous ratings were used when calculating the overall rating.
Consistent staff team
The home had a consistent team of 10 staff who knew the person's needs and supported their chosen activities.
“The provider had ensured the person had a consistent team of 10 staff who were available for the person for care and support within their home” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Medicines were stored safely and records of medicines given or refused were complete. Health professionals were consulted about a medicine that had been used regularly.
“Records used to record when they had received their medicines, or if they had been refused, were comprehensively completed.” from the report
Positive relationships
Inspectors found that the person had a positive relationship with staff and was supported to enjoy chosen activities and community life.
“It was clear the person had a very positive relationship with the staff and lead a happy and fulfilling life.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will the change from the current registered manager to the new manager affect the person's daily support?
- 02How do you make sure the staff team remains consistent when supporting activities outside the home?
- 03How are signs of anxiety or distress identified, recorded and responded to?
- 04How do you involve the person, relatives and health professionals when care or medicines need to change?
- 05What were the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous inspection, and when will these areas next be reviewed?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection on 14 November 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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, November 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no serious risks or concerns identified.
This was an announced inspection on 8 October 2018 by one inspector. The inspector spoke with staff, a relative and managers, and reviewed one person's care records and records about how the home was managed.
The home supported one person with a learning disability and related conditions. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, personalised care plans, support with health needs, kind care and opportunities for choice, activities and family contact.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home was also rated Good at its previous inspection in January 2016, and inspectors found that this rating continued to be supported.
Personalised home
The home had been designed around the person's preferences. Their choices were reflected in how it was decorated and arranged.
“People's choices and decisions were evident in the design and decoration of their home.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff had medicines training and inspectors found that medicines were given consistently and recorded correctly.
“Medicines were managed safely and consistently administered. All staff involved in administering medicines had received training.” from the report
Kind relationships
Relatives described staff as caring and respectful. Visits were welcomed and family relationships were supported.
“They really care about them and all the family. They've been very kind organising family trips and visits.” from the report
Responsive staff team
Staff knew the person's usual behaviour and health signs, allowing them to respond early when extra support was needed.
“We have a really good close relationship and this means we notice the small things which indicate they may not be well” from the report
Quality monitoring
Managers carried out checks and used an action plan to monitor improvements when issues were found.
“Where concerns with quality were identified, action was taken to improve quality and the action plan and improvements were monitored and reviewed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you arrange two staff when the person needs extra support or takes part in activities?
- 02How are medicines checked, and what happens if a medicine is changed or prescribed incorrectly?
- 03How often will the person's care plans and risk assessments be reviewed with the person and their family?
- 04How do you support the person to make choices when they are anxious or may lack capacity?
- 05How will relatives be kept informed about proposed changes to the home, including the possible bedroom extension?
This was an announced inspection covering all five key questions, but the inspector reviewed one person's care records and spoke with one relative and two staff by telephone. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 November 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 Blackwell Road
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 May 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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75 live-in carers within about an hour of Nottinghamshire
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. 63 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Ernest is an amazing professional carer who delivers care from the heart.”
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.