CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Carlton Autistic Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention, PPE, testing, visiting arrangements and the management of possible outbreaks. The provider also reported measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, June 2022
Carlton Autistic Care Centre was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 controls.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 11 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected the home.
The home was clean and well ventilated. Inspectors were assured that visitors were kept safe, PPE was used properly, testing was available and infection outbreaks could be prevented or managed. Staff had infection control training and the home had suitable PPE supplies.
The home used easy-read information and pictorial signs to support people with infection control and testing. People were also supported with meaningful activities, including themed days.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not provide a full quality rating for the home.
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and well ventilated, with hand sanitiser and PPE stations throughout the building.
“The home was clean and well ventilated. Safe arrangements were in place for professionals visiting the home.” from the report
Infection control training
Staff had training in infection prevention, PPE use and handwashing. The home also kept its infection control policies and audits up to date.
“Staff received training in IPC and in correct use of PPE as well as handwashing techniques.” from the report
Testing and PPE
The home had PPE available and a regular COVID-19 testing regime for people living there and staff.
“The home ensured there was a stock of appropriate PPE available and there was a regular COVID-19 testing regime for both, the people and the staff.” from the report
Accessible information
The home used easy-read guides and pictorial information to help people understand testing and infection control.
“The home was meeting the requirements of the Accessible Information Standards.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are COVID-19-related staffing pressures affecting staffing levels and support now?
- 02How often are people living here and staff tested for COVID-19, and what happens if a test is positive?
- 03How do you check that visiting professionals meet vaccination, testing, handwashing and PPE requirements?
- 04How do you make sure easy-read information remains available for people who need it?
- 05How would visiting arrangements change if there was an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not provide ratings for the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 June 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, November 2018
Carlton Autistic Care Centre was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some records and cleaning issues needing attention.
Inspectors visited without notice on 13 and 19 September 2018. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a visiting professional. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staffing, training and quality checks.
The home supported 16 people with autism and learning disabilities across four houses. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices and build independence. Care plans were detailed, activities reflected people's preferences, and staff understood people's communication needs.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection. The report says the home met all relevant fundamental standards.
Detailed risk planning
Risk assessments were individual and helped people develop skills while reducing harm. Inspectors found staff understood the risks people faced both at home and in the community.
“Detailed positive risk assessments were in place to enable people to gain new skills in a safe and measured way.” from the report
Kind, respectful care
People appeared happy and staff understood their communication, privacy and personal interests. Staff were matched with people where possible based on shared interests and hobbies.
“Positive caring relationships were developed through staff understanding people's needs and their personalities.” from the report
Support for independence
People were encouraged to do as much as they could for themselves. The home also supported moves to more independent settings when people were ready.
“The registered provider actively supported people to move to more independent environments once they had achieved their desired goals and were prepared for the move.” from the report
Detailed care plans
Care records covered health, communication, activities, safety and daily needs. Reviews took place regularly and changes were recorded.
“We found care plans were extremely detailed and contained all the information required to guide staff.” from the report
Open management
The manager was visible, staff felt able to influence changes, and audits and an improvement plan were used to monitor the service.
“The registered manager was very visible in the service and knew people living there very well.” from the report
As-needed medicine guidance
needs fixingProtocols for as-needed medicines were not available when inspectors first checked. Staff could explain the arrangements, and the protocols were found on the second inspection day after the issue was raised.
“We found when people required PRN medicines (When required) there were no protocols in place to guide staff.” from the report
Cleaning varied between houses
minorThree houses were extremely clean, but the fourth needed cleaning in some areas. The manager took action during the inspection.
“The four different houses were found to be very different in terms of cleanliness from extremely clean in three of the homes, but the fourth home was found to require cleaning in some areas.” from the report
Some areas needed redecoration
minorInspectors found areas of one house needed redecoration. A refurbishment programme was in place.
“We found areas of one house needed redecoration. There was a programme of refurbishment in place.” from the report
Policies being updated
minorSome policies still referred to older CQC outcomes rather than the current fundamental standards. The home said these policies would be updated.
“A few still referenced CQC outcomes rather than the fundamental standards” from the report
- 01How do you make sure protocols for as-needed medicines are available and current for every person?
- 02What cleaning checks are now carried out in each of the four houses?
- 03What refurbishment or redecoration work has been completed since the inspection?
- 04How are care plans reviewed when a person's needs or communication methods change?
- 05How do people and their relatives influence activities, care decisions and improvements to the home?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 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 Carlton Autistic Care Centre
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Carlton Autistic Care Centre →
- November 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Carlton Autistic Care Centre →
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 November 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Kirklees
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 86 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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