CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Fountains Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe, risks were assessed and reviewed, medicines were managed safely, and staff were recruited safely. Some people and relatives questioned whether staffing was always sufficient, although inspectors saw people receive prompt help during the visit.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and used their skills to support people. People's food, health needs, communication needs and legal rights were considered.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People and relatives said they were involved in decisions and that staff supported independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and reviewed regularly. The home supported activities, family contact and communication in formats suited to each person, and complaints were recorded and responded to.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found good management oversight and embedded quality checks. Feedback, incidents and complaints were used to identify improvements.
What inspectors found, November 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some concerns about staffing levels and visitor infection checks.
This was the home's first inspection since it registered in May 2020. The visit was unannounced and took place on 26 October 2021. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and health professionals. They also checked care records, staff files, training records and management systems.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people felt safe, received their medicines as prescribed and had care plans that reflected their needs and preferences.
Inspectors saw kind and respectful care. People were supported to make choices, maintain their independence and stay in contact with family and friends. The home offered activities, communal spaces and a garden, and worked with health professionals when people needed support.
There were some points to watch. People, relatives and staff gave mixed views about whether there were always enough staff, although staff were available and responded promptly during the visit. Inspectors were also not initially asked for evidence of a negative lateral flow test when they arrived, but the manager addressed this.
Safe care and medicines
Risks were assessed and reviewed, and staff had clear information about how to provide safe care. Medicines were stored, administered and disposed of safely.
“Medications were administered, stored and disposed of safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as kind and helpful. Inspectors found that privacy, dignity and independence were respected.
“People's right to privacy was respected.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's likes, dislikes, beliefs and communication needs. Relatives said staff knew the people they supported well.
“Care plans were personalised, detailed and reviewed regularly.” from the report
Good management
The management team welcomed feedback and used audits, complaints and incidents to improve the service. Staff said they felt supported.
“Good governance was embedded.” from the report
Staffing levels
needs fixingSome people, relatives and staff were unsure whether there were always enough staff, and the home was recruiting. Inspectors saw enough staff during the visit and people's requests were answered promptly.
“People, relatives and staff provided mixed feedback when we asked if there was always enough staff on duty.” from the report
Visitor infection checks
needs fixingOn arrival, inspectors were not asked to show evidence of a negative lateral flow test. This was brought to the manager's attention and addressed during the inspection.
“On arrival, the inspection team were not asked to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test (LFT).” from the report
Care plan dating
minorAn audit found that some care plans were not dated. The home took action to correct this.
“Audit of people's care plans identified that a number were not dated.” from the report
- 01How many staff are usually on duty for each shift, and how are staffing levels adjusted as occupancy increases?
- 02What has changed to make sure every visitor is checked for the required infection testing evidence before entering?
- 03How do you make sure care plans are dated, reviewed and updated after changes in a person's needs?
- 04How are feedback, complaints and accident or incident records used to make improvements?
- 05What activities and support are currently available for people living with dementia and for keeping in touch with relatives?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control; it was the home's first inspection since registration. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 November 2021 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 Fountains Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- November 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 May 2020.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Solihull
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.