CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Franklin House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Franklin House was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were in place.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 22 October 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home managed visitors, admissions, social distancing, shielding, personal protective equipment and testing safely. They also found suitable hygiene practices and arrangements for preventing or managing outbreaks.
The home was inspected but not rated overall, and the safe question was also inspected but not rated. This report does not provide ratings for the other four questions.
Visitor infection controls
The home had arrangements intended to reduce the risk of visitors spreading infection.
“There were suitable systems for visitors to the home to minimise the risks of spreading infection.” from the report
Keeping families in touch
Staff helped people stay in contact with family and friends using several forms of technology.
“The staff supported people to contact families and friends using video calls, phone calls and mobile phone applications.” from the report
Staff infection control training
Staff had training on COVID-19, infection control and PPE. A clinical lead checked staff skills and whether procedures were followed.
“Staff received training relating to COVID-19, infection control and wearing PPE (personal protective equipment).” from the report
COVID-19 testing
Inspectors found a suitable testing programme for people living at the home and staff.
“There was a suitable regime of COVID-19 testing for people living at the home and staff.” from the report
Planning and audits
The home had updated policies, contingency plans and regular checks of infection control and cleanliness.
“There were a range of policies and procedures which had been reviewed and updated since the pandemic started.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently managed to reduce the risk of infection?
- 02What arrangements are currently in place for COVID-19 or other infection testing for residents and staff?
- 03How does the home check that staff are using PPE and following infection control procedures?
- 04What is the current plan for managing staff shortages or an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; it did not provide ratings for the other four questions or an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 November 2020 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, August 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe care, with an Outstanding rating for responsiveness.
This was an unannounced inspection on 22 July 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, friends and staff. They observed care and checked care records, medicines, recruitment, training, complaints, incidents, the building and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and respect, supported by trained staff, and involved in decisions about their care.
The home was rated Outstanding for Responsive. Inspectors especially praised its end-of-life care, personalised activities, life story books, communication support and efforts to help people maintain relationships. The overall rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, while Responsive improved from Good to Outstanding.
End-of-life care
Inspectors found exceptional support for people at the end of their lives. Families could stay with people, and staff worked with palliative care professionals to provide comfort and pain relief.
“The staff gave exceptional care for people at the end of their lives.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home offered activities based on people's interests, including trips, music, gardening, school visits and individual wishes. People who could not leave their rooms were also supported to socialise.
“The service was particularly good at ensuing people had opportunities to develop relationships and take part in activities which met their individual needs and interests.” from the report
Understanding each person
Life story books helped staff and families understand people's histories, personalities and interests, rather than focusing only on their care needs.
“Staff had created 'life story' books for each person.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People told inspectors staff were kind and attentive. Inspectors also observed patient, compassionate care and support for people's choices and independence.
“Throughout our inspection we observed the staff being compassionate, caring and kind to people.” from the report
Safe care systems
Inspectors found suitable staffing, trained staff, reviewed risk plans, safe medicines administration and systems for safeguarding and learning from incidents.
“People received their medicines in a safe way and as prescribed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you tailor activities and social contact to my relative's interests, especially if they could not leave their room?
- 02How would you support my relative's communication needs, including any difficulty with speech, hearing or understanding information?
- 03How would you manage my relative's medicines, including reviews and any specialist medicines needed at the end of life?
- 04How would you involve me and my relative in decisions about care, including decisions under the Mental Capacity Act?
- 05How do you monitor staffing levels and make sure staff have the training and skills needed for my relative's care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions and both the premises and care provided; the previous overall rating was Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 August 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 Franklin House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 March 2014.
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 Hillingdon
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 £1,320 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“She has an unusual combination of kindness and firmness, is quite unflappable, physically strong, extremely savvy”
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.