CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Gladstone Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found detailed, individual risk assessments, trained staff, safe medicines management and enough staff to meet people's needs. Vacancies were being covered by familiar agency staff.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training, supervision and appraisals. People's health needs were reviewed, medical appointments were arranged, and people were supported with eating healthily and becoming more independent.
- Caring?
- Good
- Relatives said staff were caring. Staff understood people's communication needs, used visual planners and photographs where helpful, and supported people to make choices and stay in touch with family.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans included people's preferences, routines, communication and goals. People took part in activities such as pub lunches, countryside walks, swimming and gardening.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open, person-centred culture and regular quality checks. A new manager had been appointed and had applied to become the registered manager for the home.
What inspectors found, June 2018
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no serious risks or concerns identified.
This was a comprehensive announced inspection on 10 May 2018. The inspector observed care, spoke with staff and relatives, received comments from a healthcare professional, and checked care records, medicines records, staff files and management records. Residents could not be directly asked about their experiences because they communicated in different ways.
Inspectors found detailed risk assessments, enough staff, safe medicines systems and suitable staff recruitment checks. Staff knew people well, supported their choices and independence, and provided personalised routines, care plans and activities. The home was clean, maintained and used audits to monitor quality.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection, and the report says the evidence continued to support that rating. The service met all relevant fundamental standards.
Individual safety planning
Risk assessments were tailored to people's needs, behaviour and activities. They included guidance for staff about how to provide safe support.
“Risk assessments were in place specific to their individual needs and any behaviour they may present.” from the report
Trained and suitable staff
Staff had training in areas including safeguarding, medicines, first aid and fire safety. Recruitment checks were also completed.
“We found that staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to support people effectively and safely.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans described people's preferences, communication, routines and goals. Staff used this information to provide consistent support.
“People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs.” from the report
Respect for communication and choice
Staff understood how people communicated and used simple questions, photographs and visual planners to support choices and provide reassurance.
“We saw that staff knew people and understood their different communication needs.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to take part in activities and use local facilities, including walks, swimming, gardening and pub lunches.
“We saw people in the home enjoyed a range of activities, with staff support.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home carried out audits covering areas such as medicines and health and safety. The manager also reviewed accidents, training, supervision and care records.
“A number of audits were completed by support staff and senior care staff which included, medication and health and safety.” from the report
Staff vacancies
minorThe home was using familiar agency staff while waiting for permanent staff to start. Ask how long this continued and whether staffing is now stable.
“Staff vacancies were currently filled by using familiar agency staff until permanent staff were able to start work at the home.” from the report
Manager registration pending
minorA new manager had been appointed, but the application to become the registered manager had not yet been completed at the inspection.
“They had submitted an application to the Commission to be the registered manager for Gladstone Road.” from the report
- 01How many permanent staff are now in post, and how often are agency staff used?
- 02Has the manager's application to become the registered manager been completed?
- 03How are each person's care plans, risk assessments and visual planners reviewed and updated?
- 04How will my relative be supported to choose activities and access the community?
- 05How can relatives raise a complaint, and how will they be kept informed about its progress?
This was a comprehensive, announced inspection of all five areas on 10 May 2018; inspectors observed care and spoke with staff, relatives and a healthcare professional because residents could not be directly asked about their experiences. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 June 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 Gladstone Road
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 February 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.
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
38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
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 £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.