CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Pound Lane
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with some staff records not easy to locate.
This was an unannounced inspection on 18 September 2018. Two inspectors spoke with people living in the home, staff and managers. They also contacted relatives and health professionals and reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training records, complaints and quality checks.
The inspectors found the home safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. There were enough staff with suitable skills, medicines were managed safely, and staff understood how to manage risks. People received support that reflected their needs, communication methods, choices and interests.
People were treated with kindness, privacy and respect. They were supported to stay independent, keep in touch with family and take part in activities. The management team monitored the service and staff said they were supported.
The overall rating was Good in all five areas. This was the first inspection after the home became separately registered in September 2017.
Safe care and medicines
Staff understood how to manage risks and protect people from harm. Medicines were stored, recorded and given safely.
“There were appropriate arrangements in place for medicines to be stored and administered safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors found caring relationships and saw staff giving people time to understand information. People were supported to remain independent.
“People had privacy and dignity respected and were supported to maintain their independence.” from the report
Personalised communication
Care plans explained people's needs, preferences and communication methods, including the use of pictures, objects and symbols.
“People had detailed communication plans contained in their care plan.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People were supported to take part in activities they enjoyed, use community facilities and keep in contact with relatives.
“Support was provided that enabled people to take part in and follow their interests and hobbies.” from the report
Visible management
Staff said managers were supportive and approachable. The home used audits, meetings and action plans to check the quality and safety of care.
“The management team were approachable and a visible presence in the service.” from the report
Staff records were not easy to find
minorInspectors could see the required staff records, but some documents were stored in different places and took time to locate. The manager said they would review the filing system.
“Although we were able to look at all of the staff records some of them were not easy to locate.” from the report
- 01How many agency staff are currently used, and how do you keep staffing consistent for people living here?
- 02What changes have you made to the way staff references and other personnel records are filed?
- 03How would you support my relative to communicate their choices if they cannot communicate verbally?
- 04What activities and community opportunities could my relative take part in?
- 05How would you involve our family in care planning, health decisions and contact arrangements?
This was an unannounced first inspection of the separately registered home and assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 November 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 Pound Lane
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- November 2018Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 September 2017.
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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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
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.