CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Family Investment (Four) Limited
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines management and infection-control procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in and staff had relevant training and supervision. People were supported with healthy food, healthcare, communication and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff were exceptionally compassionate and kind. People were involved in their care plans, respected as individuals and supported to make choices and remain independent.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- The home provided highly personalised support. People were helped to learn skills, work, travel, maintain relationships, follow interests and take part in activities and holidays.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a person-centred culture and systems to monitor quality and involve people, relatives and staff. The manager worked with health and social care professionals and staff spoke positively about the support they received.
What inspectors found, September 2019
Family Investment (Four) Limited was rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring and responsive support, with safe, effective and well-led care rated Good.
This was a planned inspection visit on 20 August 2019. One inspector and an expert-by-experience reviewed records, medicines, recruitment checks, policies and quality checks. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and social care professionals.
The home supports up to eight adults with learning disabilities. Inspectors found people were safe, received their medicines properly, had suitable care plans and were supported by trained staff. People were helped to make choices, stay healthy, develop skills and remain independent.
Caring and responsive care were rated Outstanding. Inspectors found staff were exceptionally kind and understood people's individual wishes. Safe, effective and well-led were rated Good. The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection, published on 23 February 2017.
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff treating people with warmth, dignity and respect. Staff understood people's individual needs, including sensitive matters such as relationships, religion and personal preferences.
“Staff were highly motivated and offered people care and support that was exceptionally compassionate and kind.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions about their care, recruit staff, manage some medicines, travel, work and develop everyday skills.
“People were respected and valued as individuals and they were empowered as partners in their care.” from the report
Activities and community life
People chose activities that reflected their interests and went to work, clubs, day centres, holidays and places in the community.
“People planned for activities that met their needs and preferences.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were stored securely, staff were trained and records were complete. Some people were supported to take responsibility for their own medicines.
“People were receiving their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.” from the report
People involved in decisions
People helped plan meals and activities and were involved in choosing new staff. Their views were also gathered through meetings, reviews and surveys.
“People had been involved in recruiting staff into the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess whether the home can meet my relative's particular health, communication and support needs before they move in?
- 02How would you support my relative to manage their own medicines, and how would you monitor this safely?
- 03Which activities, work or travel opportunities could my relative take part in, based on their interests and abilities?
- 04How would my relative be involved in reviewing their care plan and making decisions about their support?
- 05How do you involve residents and relatives when recruiting staff and checking the quality of the home?
This was an announced, planned inspection covering the home, the care provided and all five CQC key questions, with an additional review of restrictive intervention practices. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 September 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.
What inspectors found, February 2017
Family Investment (Four) Limited was rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring and Good ratings in all other areas.
The inspection took place on 9 and 10 January 2017. One inspector visited the home, spoke with seven people living there and observed how staff supported them. The inspector also spoke with staff and a social care professional, and checked care plans, medicines, training, recruitment and quality records.
The home supported up to eight adults with a learning disability, and all eight places were occupied. Inspectors found safe staffing, suitable recruitment checks, safe medicines systems, clean surroundings and suitable risk assessments. People had their health needs monitored and staff had the training and support needed for their roles.
Caring was the strongest area. Inspectors found kind and compassionate staff who knew people well and supported their independence, dignity, relationships and emotional needs. People were involved in decisions about their care and daily lives, and had access to work, education, hobbies and other activities.
The overall rating was Good. Safe, effective, responsive and well-led were also rated Good. Caring was rated Outstanding. The previous inspection in February 2014 had found no breaches of regulation.
Kind and personal care
Staff knew people very well and gave sensitive support, including during difficult emotional events. Inspectors saw strong relationships based on respect and understanding.
“Staff were highly motivated to respond to people in a natural, compassionate and individual way and often went the "extra mile" when supporting people.” from the report
Promoting independence
People were supported to make choices, manage parts of their own care and take part in household tasks, work and community activities.
“Staff were highly motivated to ensure people remained independent and that their dignity was maintained.” from the report
Safe and skilled staff
The home had enough staff and carried out recruitment checks. Staff received training, supervision and support to carry out their roles.
“There were enough staff who were sufficiently qualified and competent to support the people at the service.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People had activities and work opportunities matched to their interests and abilities. These included gardening, cooking, arts, crafts and work in local settings.
“People were offered a range of interesting and fulfilling activities according to their interests, which enabled them to develop life and work skills.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative to manage their own medicines, and what checks would be made if they self-administered?
- 02How would staffing levels be arranged around my relative's activities, time at home and need for one-to-one support?
- 03How would you support my relative to stay independent if their health needs or ability to travel changed?
- 04Which work, education and leisure activities could be matched to my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How would my relative and our family be involved in reviewing their care plan and raising any concerns?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, with observations, discussions and checks of care, medicines, staffing, training, safety and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 February 2017 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 Family Investment (Four) Limited
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- September 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Family Investment (Four) Limited →
- February 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Family Investment (Four) Limited →
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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 £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.