CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 40 Stafford Avenue
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about most infection-control measures, including PPE, testing, visiting and managing outbreaks. They found rust on a radiator cover and shower chair, and ingrained dirt on some lighting pull cords.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements, with some cleanliness and equipment issues.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 3 March 2022. Inspectors focused on infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care.
The home had good arrangements for visitors, testing, personal protective equipment and preventing infection outbreaks. Staff were using protective equipment appropriately, and supplies were plentiful and easy to access.
Inspectors found some environmental issues. A radiator cover and shower chair had started to rust, and some lighting pull cords had ingrained dirt. The provider was signposted to resources to improve its approach.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a full rating across all five areas of care.
Visitor checks
Visitors were checked for proof of vaccination where this applied, and visits were supported in line with government guidance.
“Visitors were checked on arrival for proof of vaccination where it was applicable.” from the report
Infection-control checks
The provider carried out regular checks on staff practice and worked with healthcare professionals to follow infection-control guidance.
“The provider completed regular checks to ensure staff followed effective infection prevention and control practices.” from the report
Protective equipment
Inspectors found plentiful PPE supplies and saw staff using PPE appropriately.
“We saw staff were using PPE appropriately at all times.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
Inspectors were assured that the home supported testing and had arrangements to prevent or manage infection outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Cleanliness and worn equipment
minorSome equipment and fixtures needed attention. The provider was signposted to resources to improve its approach.
“However, we saw a radiator cover and shower chair had started to rust and some lighting pull cords were showing signs of ingrained dirt.” from the report
- 01Have the rusty radiator cover and shower chair been repaired or replaced?
- 02How have the lighting pull cords with ingrained dirt been cleaned and how will this be checked in future?
- 03How are staff pressures monitored, and did they affect people's care during the inspection period?
- 04How are visitors and visiting professionals checked against the vaccination requirements that applied at the time?
- 05How often are PPE supplies, testing arrangements and infection-control practices reviewed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection of all five questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 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, March 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the last inspection.
The unannounced inspection took place on 21 February 2019. One inspector reviewed information held by the CQC, spoke with three people, three staff and the manager, and checked care records, medicines records, training records, incident reports and quality checks.
The home provided residential care and nursing or personal care for five people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found people were safe, their medicines were managed properly, and staff understood how to support their health, choices and communication needs.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. They were involved in their care plans, supported to make choices and encouraged to follow their interests. The home was meeting the principles of Registering the Right Support.
The overall rating was Good, as were the ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was an improvement from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection, published on 5 September 2017.
Safe medicines practice
The home had improved its medicines guidance since the previous inspection. Inspectors observed medicines being given accurately, on time and as prescribed.
“People received their medicines as prescribed. We observed people receive their medicines in line with the guidance and this was done accurately and on time.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and had positive relationships with them. Inspectors saw people being treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
“We saw kind and caring interactions between people and staff.” from the report
Personalised support
People were involved in developing and reviewing their care plans. Plans included their preferences, interests, life history and communication needs.
“People were fully involved in developing and reviewing their care plans.” from the report
Good leadership
Quality checks, incident reviews and feedback from people were used to identify improvements. The report says the provider had addressed weaknesses found at the previous inspection.
“At this inspection we found the provider had made the required improvements.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What changes have been made since the inspection on 21 February 2019?
- 02How are people's 'as required' medicines currently assessed, recorded and reviewed?
- 03How are people involved in reviewing their care plans and choosing their daily activities?
- 04How do you make sure there are enough familiar staff to support people when someone is absent?
- 05How are people's communication needs, cultural preferences, religion and sexuality reflected in their current care plans?
This was an unannounced scheduled inspection looking at the overall quality of the care home and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 March 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 40 Stafford Avenue
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
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 4 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.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Staffordshire
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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.