CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Downview Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough suitable staff, individual risk assessments, safe medicines systems and appropriate infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments and personalised care plans. Staff had induction, shadowing, training and ongoing supervision, and worked with health and social care professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with dignity and respect. Inspectors saw warm relationships, emotional support and staff helping people express their views and maintain independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's preferences, communication methods and needs. People were supported to choose activities, develop skills and take part in community life.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- The home had audits and an action plan, but quality monitoring and record keeping were inconsistent. Inspectors recommended improvements to audit oversight and to the recording and review of mental capacity assessments.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Downview Residential Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but leadership and records needed improvement.
This was a planned inspection visit on 14 May 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, staff and relatives. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff records, audits and safety information.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found enough suitable staff, safe medicines systems, personalised care, skilled staff and respectful relationships. People were supported to make choices, build independence and take part in activities in the home and community.
The Well-led rating was Requires Improvement. Quality checks and records were not always consistent. Some mental capacity records were difficult to find, did not show enough discussion with representatives and did not show regular reviews.
This was the first inspection since registration under a new provider. The report says there were no concerns requiring immediate action, and the home would be re-inspected within the published timeframe for services rated Good.
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored safely and administration records checked by inspectors were complete. The home also used medicines audits by staff and external pharmacists.
“We reviewed three people's medicine's administration records. These were completed correctly and we did not see any unexplained errors or gaps.” from the report
Personalised communication
Staff adapted how they communicated so people could express their needs and take part in decisions and activities.
“One person had developed their own type of sign language which staff had taken time to learn.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw staff supporting people with warmth, respect and emotional responsiveness. Relatives also spoke positively about the caring approach.
“There was a relaxed, happy atmosphere in the home and it was clear that people felt comfortable and relaxed.” from the report
Building independence
People were encouraged to cook, shop, develop skills and take part in activities they chose. Staff supported people to maintain friendships and use local community facilities.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.” from the report
Inconsistent quality checks
needs fixingThe manager did not have a system to check that all audits had been completed correctly. Inspectors could not be assured that the audits were fully understood or effective.
“However, the registered manager did not have a system for checking if all audits had been completed correctly” from the report
Mental capacity records
needs fixingSome mental capacity records were difficult to locate or lacked enough evidence of discussions with legally appointed representatives. Regular reviews were not always evidenced.
“We could not find evidence that mental capacity assessments had been regularly reviewed by staff in the service.” from the report
- 01What has changed in the system for checking that all quality and safety audits are completed correctly?
- 02How do you now make mental capacity assessments easy to find and ensure they are regularly reviewed?
- 03How do you record discussions with people's legally appointed representatives and relevant professionals?
- 04How do you make sure staff continue to use each person's preferred communication method?
- 05How do you monitor whether people are gaining new skills and becoming more independent?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, with the home and the care provided both looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 June 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 Downview Residential Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- June 2019Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 May 2018.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
42 live-in carers within about an hour of West Berkshire
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 £1,260 a week. 36 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“Titus has compassion, patience, a great sense of humour and a very professional attitude.”
“Barbara treated my mother-in-law with enormous love and compassion and provided an environment where she could feel safe and seen”
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.