CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 535 High Lane
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough safely recruited staff, detailed risk assessments and safe medicine arrangements. The home was clean and checks were made on infection control, equipment and fire systems.
- Effective?
- Good
- People were supported to make choices under the Mental Capacity Act. Staff monitored health conditions, involved other health professionals when needed and provided food suited to people's needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness and respect, knew them well and supported their dignity, independence, relationships and day-to-day choices.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and included people's communication needs and preferences. People were supported with activities, outings, relationships and plans for their future care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had regular meetings, care reviews and audits. Staff felt supported and the manager was described as approachable, although survey analysis had not yet been completed.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Choices Housing Association Limited - 535 High Lane is rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care, with some areas for review.
Inspectors visited without warning on 17 July 2018. They spoke with people living there, staff and social care professionals. They observed care and checked care plans, medicine records, recruitment and training records, and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they were happy, liked the staff and enjoyed activities and trips. Inspectors found enough safely recruited staff, detailed risk plans, safe medicine arrangements and good support with health needs.
Care was personalised. Staff knew people well, supported their choices and helped them stay in contact with relatives and friends. The home had systems to monitor quality and learn from incidents.
The home was still rated Good, as it was at the previous inspection in January 2016. Inspectors made a recommendation about reviewing the home's Statement of Purpose and the outcomes it aims to achieve for people.
Kind and respectful care
People told inspectors they were happy and liked the staff. Staff supported dignity and encouraged people to do things for themselves.
“People were treated with kindness and respect by staff who knew them well.” from the report
Safe support
Risk assessments were detailed and staff followed them. Medicines, staffing, recruitment and infection control were checked and managed safely.
“There were detailed risk assessments and plans in place and staff were following these.” from the report
Personalised activities
People were supported to enjoy activities and trips that matched their interests, including clubs, sport, family events and local outings.
“People were supported to partake in a range of activities and outings they enjoyed.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home used regular care reviews, audits, meetings and a monthly scorecard to monitor people's needs and the service.
“Systems were in place to effectively monitor and check the quality of the service.” from the report
People's views about living together
minorSome people repeatedly said they did not want to live together in the home. The report does not say that this had been resolved.
“Some people expressed that they did not want to live together in the home.” from the report
Limited communal space
minorA social care professional said the home was particularly small upstairs, where communal space was limited to the kitchen and lounge.
“the house is quite small especially upstairs where communal spaces are limited to the kitchen and lounge area” from the report
Statement of Purpose
minorInspectors recommended that the provider review its guidance and the outcomes it aims to achieve, so that everyone has a positive experience of care.
“We recommend the provider considers this guidance and reviews the outcomes they are trying to achieve for people to ensure all people have a positive experience of their care.” from the report
Feedback analysis
minorRecent surveys had been sent out, but the analysis had not yet taken place when inspectors visited.
“We saw surveys had been sent out recently; however, the analysis had not yet taken place.” from the report
Support with sexual identity
minorThe home had gathered information about religious needs, but work was still ongoing to support people in relation to their sexual identity.
“work was ongoing to support people in relation to their sexual identity.” from the report
- 01What has the home done since the inspection about people who said they did not want to live together?
- 02How does the limited communal space affect people's daily lives, and are there plans to improve it?
- 03What did the recent surveys show, and how were the results used to make changes?
- 04What progress has been made in supporting people in relation to their sexual identity?
- 05How has the Statement of Purpose been reviewed, and what outcomes does the home now aim to achieve for each person?
This was an unannounced inspection of the whole care home and all five CQC questions; the previous Good rating from January 2016 was confirmed. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 August 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 535 High Lane
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 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 Stoke-on-Trent
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 £1,190 a week. 93 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“She's shown compassion, patience and a level of understanding that no other carer has given.”
“She maintained a great environment for mum both with the tidiness and cleanliness of the house and Mum and with her caring and understanding attitude.”
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.