CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Half Acre Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected by safeguarding systems, risk assessments, safe recruitment, suitable staffing and safe medicines procedures. The home also had suitable infection control and building safety arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had access to training and support, and people received suitable food, healthcare and help with their individual needs. Some induction records had not been signed off by the registered manager and were to be followed up.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw a calm and friendly atmosphere. Staff treated people with kindness, respect and dignity, and people were involved in everyday choices and decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- The home responded to people's needs, offered activities and supported contact with family and friends. Care plans were being reviewed, and the home was asked to explore more opportunities around sexuality and religious and cultural needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers used audits, checks, meetings and action plans to monitor the home and improve care. A new handover book needed to become established, and staff were reminded to complete it.
What inspectors found, July 2022
Half Acre Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with some records and inclusion work still being completed.
Inspectors visited without notice on 14 and 15 June 2022. They spoke with eight people, one relative, seven staff and a visiting community nurse. They reviewed care records, recruitment files, medicines records, audits and safety checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People and visitors gave positive feedback. Inspectors saw staff treating people kindly and respectfully, with enough staff available and medicines managed safely.
The home had individual care plans and was updating them to include more personal information. Inspectors also identified areas to develop, including access to dentists, support for sexuality and cultural needs, and completing some staff induction records and the new handover book.
Kind and respectful care
People and visitors spoke positively about the care. Inspectors saw staff being kind, respectful and sensitive when supporting people.
“Throughout the inspection the atmosphere within the home was relaxed, calm and friendly.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines, including controlled drugs, were managed safely. Staff who gave medicines had training and their competence was checked.
“The management and administration of people's prescribed medication, including controlled drugs, was safe.” from the report
Staffing and training
The home had a stable staff team, with staffing levels kept under review. A broad training programme and staff support were in place.
“Records showed a comprehensive programme of training was available to staff.” from the report
Food and health support
People praised the choice and quality of meals. Staff understood special diets and sought advice when people were at risk of poor nutrition.
“Kitchen staff were clearly aware of people's individual dietary needs and where special diets were required, such as fortified foods.” from the report
Management oversight
Managers carried out audits and checks, recorded action plans and shared information with staff to support learning and improvement.
“Comprehensive audits and checks, including night visits, were completed by the management team.” from the report
Care plans still being updated
needs fixingThe home was reviewing care plans to add fuller information about people's needs, wishes and preferences. This work was not yet complete at the inspection.
“Work was being completed to review and update people's care plans so that information provided good information about people's individual needs, wishes and preferences.” from the report
Some induction records incomplete
minorSome staff induction records had not been signed off by the registered manager. The report says this was to be followed up.
“We found some induction records had not been signed off by the registered manager.” from the report
Dental access
needs fixingMost people were not registered with a dentist. The home had tried to find access, but the report says there was no provision available within the borough.
“We were told the majority of people were not registered with a dentist.” from the report
Inclusion and personal identity
minorThe home needed to explore further opportunities relating to people's sexuality and religious and cultural needs.
“These were to be explored.” from the report
Handover records
minorA new handover book had been introduced but still needed to become established. Staff were reminded to complete it.
“A handover book had recently been introduced. This provided comprehensive information about the day to day plans.” from the report
- 01Have the care plans now been fully updated with each person's needs, wishes and preferences?
- 02How do you support residents who need a dentist, given that most people were not registered with one at the inspection?
- 03What specific activities or support are now available for residents' sexuality, religious and cultural needs?
- 04Have all staff induction records been signed off, and how do you check that new staff are ready for their roles?
- 05How is the new handover book being used and checked by managers?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC key questions, with additional checks on infection control and oral healthcare. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 July 2022 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 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, safe visiting arrangements and measures to manage COVID-19 staffing pressures.
This was a targeted inspection on 4 February 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected people.
Inspectors found the home was following safe infection prevention and control procedures. They were assured about cleaning, PPE, testing, social distancing, admissions and managing infection outbreaks.
Visiting followed government guidance and best practice. People could have face-to-face visits and remote contact with loved ones.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not provide an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had safe infection prevention and control arrangements, including hygiene, social distancing, PPE and outbreak management.
“We were assured the service was following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.” from the report
Clean premises
The home was visibly clean and in good order. Cleaning schedules included regular attention to frequently touched areas.
“The premises were visibly clean and in good order.” from the report
Visiting and contact
The home supported face-to-face and remote contact with loved ones while following government guidance and infection control arrangements.
“Visits were safely and effectively facilitated; people were supported to maintain face to face contact with their loves ones” from the report
PPE and testing
Staff had access to PPE, had training in its use and took part in regular COVID-19 testing.
“All staff were engaged in a regular COVID-19 testing regime; this helped to detect early symptoms of COVID-19, reduce transmission and keep people safe.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing any COVID-19-related staffing pressures now, and what effect could they have on people living here?
- 02How often are touch points such as door handles and light switches cleaned, and how do you check this is done?
- 03What PPE training do staff receive, and how do you check that it is being used correctly?
- 04How are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 now, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 05How can relatives arrange face-to-face and remote visits, and what infection control measures currently apply?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 February 2022 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 Half Acre Care Home
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 June 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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