CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Harmony House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors found improvements in fire safety, including regular reviews of personal emergency evacuation plans. They were assured about infection prevention and control measures, but they did not review the whole Safe question, so the previous Requires Improvement rating remained.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, June 2021
Targeted inspection: overall not rated; fire safety and infection controls had improved, but the previous Safe rating remained Requires Improvement.
This was a targeted inspection on 19 February and 4 March 2021. Inspectors checked fire safety improvements and infection prevention measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. They observed the home, spoke briefly with people and managers, and reviewed records and risk assessments.
Inspectors found people were safe during the areas they checked. Fire risks and personal emergency evacuation plans were reviewed. The home was clean, had enough protective equipment, and had systems for cleaning, testing, social distancing and visits.
The home was not given a new overall rating. The previous Safe rating of Requires Improvement stayed in place because this inspection looked only at selected parts of safety. A full assessment was planned for a future comprehensive inspection.
Fire safety reviews
People's fire risks were assessed and personal emergency evacuation plans were regularly reviewed to reflect their needs.
“People's risks in relation to fire safety were managed. The registered manager regularly reviewed PEEPs to ensure they reflected people's needs.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable infection control arrangements, including cleaning, protective equipment and testing.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Contact with families
People were supported to keep in touch with family members through video calls, telephone calls and window visits.
“People were supported to keep in touch with their family members via video or telephone calls as well as window visits.” from the report
Major roof repairs were planned
minorThe report says major roof repair work was planned. Ask whether this work has now been completed and whether any current risks remain.
“There were plans in place for some major repair work to the roof of the home.” from the report
- 01Has the planned major roof repair work been completed, and are there any remaining risks?
- 02When will the next comprehensive inspection take place to reassess the Safe rating?
- 03How often are personal emergency evacuation plans reviewed, and what happens if a person's needs change?
- 04How are infection control arrangements kept up to date, including testing, protective equipment and visiting arrangements?
- 05What did the previous comprehensive inspection find in the other areas of care?
This was a targeted inspection of selected fire safety and infection prevention measures; it did not assess the whole Safe question or the other four key questions, so the previous ratings carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 June 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.
What inspectors found, March 2020
Harmony House was rated Good overall, but inspectors found safety arrangements that Requires Improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 February 2020. Inspectors spoke with 10 people, 11 staff and a visiting health professional. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
People told inspectors they felt safe and were positive about the care. Staff knew people well, treated them with respect and supported their independence, activities, health and community involvement. Care planning, staff training, food, medicines, complaints and management were generally good.
The main weakness was safety. Some building areas needed repair or refurbishment, the fire risk assessment needed updating, some bathroom ventilation was not working, and personal evacuation plans needed more regular review. The overall rating stayed Good, but the Safe rating fell from Good to Requires Improvement because there was limited assurance about safety and an increased risk that people could be harmed.
Kind and respectful staff
People were very positive about staff. Staff listened, knew people's preferences and supported them in a caring and respectful way.
“Staff were very friendly and had plenty time for people and listened to them.” from the report
Promoting independence
People were supported to learn skills, make decisions and become more independent in daily life and in the community.
“They supported people to become responsible in daily decision making in their own lives and to learn new skills, whatever the level of need.” from the report
Good activities and community links
People took part in activities they enjoyed and were supported to go out, study, work and maintain relationships.
“People all went out and spent time in the community, as well as enjoying entertainment in the home.” from the report
Detailed personalised care
Care records described people's needs, preferences and goals. People and relevant others were involved in planning support.
“Records detailed what was important to the person and how they wished to be supported to achieve their goals.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received induction, specialist training, supervision and opportunities for development. They shadowed experienced staff until they were considered competent.
“New staff shadowed experienced staff until they, and management were satisfied they were competent.” from the report
Evacuation plans needed more frequent review
needs fixingInspectors recommended more regular reviews of personal evacuation plans, so they reflected any changes in people's needs during an emergency.
“We recommend that a more regular review of personal evacuation plans should take place, in case people's needs changed and the building needed to be evacuated in an emergency.” from the report
Fire and building safety work was needed
seriousThe fire risk assessment needed updating and some bathroom ventilation systems were not working. The provider sent an action plan after the inspection.
“This included updating the fire risk assessment and the mechanical vent-axias in some bathrooms were not operating.” from the report
Wear and tear and environmental checks
needs fixingSome parts of the building showed wear and tear, and inspectors said environmental audits needed to be more regular and thorough.
“This included a more regular environmental audit of the premises to check they were equipped appropriately.” from the report
- 01Have the fire risk assessment and the non-working bathroom ventilation systems now been updated or repaired?
- 02How often are each person's personal evacuation plans reviewed, and what happens when their needs change?
- 03What building repairs or refurbishment were included in the action plan sent after the inspection, and which actions are complete?
- 04How often are environmental audits now carried out, and how are problems followed up?
- 05How will you check that my relative's care plan remains up to date and reflects their choices, goals and changing needs?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions, including the care provided and the care home premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 March 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.
Every inspection of Harmony House
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 May 2012.
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 South Tyneside
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 £950 to £1,140 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.