CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 6 St Lukes Close Huntingdon
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention, testing, protective equipment, admissions, hygiene and managing possible outbreaks. The provider also described measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19-related staff pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Cambridgeshire County Council - 6 St Lukes Close Huntingdon was inspected but not rated; inspectors found infection control and visiting arrangements in place.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 22 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures. The home was inspected but not rated.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, arranging testing, managing admissions and maintaining hygiene. Staff completed rapid COVID-19 tests before shifts, and inspectors observed staff wearing protective equipment correctly.
Family and friends could visit in line with current guidance. People were also supported to keep in touch using tablets and phones. The home had plans for staff absences and reduced admissions to allow cleaning and limit gatherings.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had effective arrangements to prevent and manage infection. Staff were observed using protective equipment correctly.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Visiting
Family and friends were allowed to visit in line with the guidance in force at the time.
“Family and friends could visit people who lived at the service in line with current guidance.” from the report
Keeping in touch
Staff supported people to maintain contact with family and friends through tablets and phones.
“Staff supported people to use computer tablets and phones to video call and/or communicate with family and friends.” from the report
Planning for staff absence
The home had contingency plans for staff leave, illness and COVID-19 self-isolation.
“There were business contingency plans in place to help with any staff absences due to staff leave, staff being unwell or having to self-isolate due to COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently manage staffing pressures when staff are absent or unwell?
- 02What are the current arrangements for family and friends visiting the home?
- 03What testing and protective equipment arrangements are currently used for staff and visitors?
- 04How do you safely manage new admissions, room cleaning and contact between people staying for respite care?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures; it did not rate the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 March 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, January 2018
Cambridgeshire County Council - 6 St Lukes Close Huntingdon is Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised respite care, but some stays had been cancelled because spaces were limited.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 24 November 2017. One inspector observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting professional, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment, training, risk management and quality monitoring.
The home provided respite care for up to six people with physical and learning disabilities. Inspectors found enough suitably checked staff, safe medicines arrangements, clear care plans and support that promoted people's choices, dignity and independence. Food, drink and health care were provided in line with people's needs.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home was rated Good overall, the same as at the previous inspection on 19 August 2015.
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff for the people staying at the home, and recruitment checks were completed before staff started work. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded safely.
“Staff only commenced working when all the required recruitment checks had been satisfactorily completed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were friendly, attentive and respectful of people's privacy and dignity. They used people's communication styles and choices to provide personal support.
“There was a friendly, relaxed atmosphere and staff were kind and attentive in their approach.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's likes, dislikes, communication needs, routines, activities and personal care preferences. Staff used this information to provide individual support.
“The care plans were written in a person centred way to meet people's individual preferences.” from the report
Food and drink choices
People had access to meals, snacks and drinks that met their needs and preferences. They were supported to make choices and take part in cooking.
“People were supported to have enough to eat and drink. In addition to meals, we saw that a range of drinks and snacks were available.” from the report
Availability of respite places
needs fixingTwo people sometimes stayed for several months. This reduced the spaces available to others and had resulted in some respite stays being cancelled.
“However, it was noted that at times two people had been living in the service for some months which impacted on the amount of available spaces for other people wishing to use the service.” from the report
- 01How many respite places are currently available, and how do you prevent longer stays from cancelling other people's planned visits?
- 02What information do you need about my relative's mobility, communication, food and personal care before their first stay?
- 03How will you support my relative to make choices if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 04How are medicines brought in, stored, administered and recorded during a respite stay?
- 05How will you contact us if my relative becomes unwell or their care needs change?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, the premises and the care provided; the previous overall rating was also Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 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 6 St Lukes Close Huntingdon
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- 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.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 December 2010.
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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Cambridgeshire
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 £1,020 to £1,200 a week. 14 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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.