CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Homeleigh
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, July 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind care, but medicines, premises, personalised care and management systems were not reliable.
This was an unannounced inspection on 14 and 15 June 2023. Inspectors spoke with people and staff, reviewed care and medicines records, checked recruitment and looked at how the home was managed.
The home was rated Good for caring. Inspectors saw kind and respectful interactions. Staff understood safeguarding, staffing levels were safe, and people received support with food, drink and health care.
Four areas were rated Requires Improvement: safe, effective, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found medicines were not always managed safely, the home needed cleaning and repairs, care plans were inconsistent, and quality checks had missed important problems.
The overall rating changed from Good at the last inspection in 2018 to Requires Improvement. The report identified four legal breaches. The provider was asked for an action plan and will be monitored by CQC and the local authority.
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors observed positive interactions. Staff were patient, kind and caring, and respected people's choices and dignity.
“Staff were observed to be kind and caring.” from the report
Safeguarding awareness
Staff had regular safeguarding training and knew how to recognise and report concerns. Safeguarding concerns were reported to the local authority and CQC in line with guidance.
“Staff completed regular safeguarding training. They knew how to identify and report any concerns.” from the report
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found staffing levels were safe and the required checks had been completed before staff started work.
“Staff were recruited safely and had the appropriate pre-employment checks in place before employment commenced.” from the report
Support with health and diet
People received support to eat and drink enough, and the home referred people to health professionals to support their wellbeing.
“People received support to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet.” from the report
Medicines management
seriousStaff did not always have the guidance needed for medicines given when required. Some medicines were given at the wrong time, creams were not always applied as prescribed, and storage checks were incomplete.
“Written guidance was not available for staff to follow when medicines were prescribed to be given, 'when required'.” from the report
Unsafe and poorly maintained premises
seriousThe home was not clean and needed decorating and repairs. A window allowed access to the roof and the faulty front door allowed entry without staff knowledge.
“The premises were not visibly clean and free from odours.” from the report
Care was not consistently personalised
seriousCare plans and assessments were incomplete or inconsistent. Inspectors could not be assured that people's goals, sensory needs and outcomes were being properly supported and reviewed.
“Care planning was inconsistent, and we could not be assured care was personalised.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousThe home's audits had not identified all the problems, including medicines risks and the unsafe window. This increased the risk that issues would continue.
“The quality assurance system was not robust. This placed people at increased risk of harm.” from the report
Activities and involvement
needs fixingRecords did not clearly show what activities people had taken part in or the progress they made. Inspectors also found little evidence of regular reviews and involvement of people and families.
“The recording of activities and people's progress had been poor, making it difficult to evidence what had taken place for each person.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to medicines guidance, timing, cream records and storage temperature checks since the inspection?
- 02Has the home completed the cleaning, decorating, flooring, garden and fencing work identified by inspectors?
- 03How are care plans now kept consistent, personalised and regularly reviewed with each person and their family?
- 04What has been done to make the home secure, including the front door and the third-floor window?
- 05How do you now check that activities, health plans, oral care and people's outcomes are being delivered and recorded?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control; the previous ratings were from 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 July 2023 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, May 2021
Rated Good overall; inspectors found strong infection control, but entry supervision and some cleaning arrangements needed strengthening.
Inspectors visited the home on 17 March 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff had specialist COVID-19 training and were monitored to check they followed the required procedures. People and staff were tested regularly, vaccinations had been given, and families were supported to keep in touch by phone and video calls.
Inspectors found that visitors were expected to complete checks, use hand sanitiser and wear suitable protective equipment. However, the lobby was not supervised well enough, and arrangements for cleaning frequently touched areas, PPE and waste bins needed improvement.
The overall rating was Good. The service was safe for infection control purposes, but Safe was inspected without a new rating being given. The other four areas were not assessed in this visit.
Staff training
Staff received specialist training about preventing the spread of COVID-19 and were supervised to check that procedures were followed.
“All staff received specialist training to ensure they understood how to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People using the service and staff were tested regularly. The report also says vaccinations were given in line with the government programme.
“Staff and people were regularly tested in line with the current government COVID-`19 testing program” from the report
Keeping families in touch
The home helped people maintain contact with friends and relatives through regular video and phone calls.
“Action was taken to keep friends and families in touch and regular video and phone calls were facilitated.” from the report
Entry supervision
needs fixingThe lobby was not monitored robustly enough to make sure visitors followed the home's infection control procedures. Inspectors said people could gain access without complying with those procedures.
“The lobby area was not monitored robustly enough to make sure entry was supervised.” from the report
Cleaning and lobby supplies
needs fixingInstructions and processes for cleaning frequently touched areas needed strengthening. Inspectors also said the home needed to review access to PPE and waste bins in the lobby.
“The provider needed to review: supervision for people visiting the building, access to PPE and waste bins in the lobby area and instructions provided about cleaning frequently touched areas.” from the report
- 01How do you now supervise the lobby to make sure every visitor follows the infection control checks?
- 02What changes have you made to the availability of PPE and waste bins in the lobby?
- 03How often are frequently touched areas cleaned, and how is this recorded?
- 04What action did you take after inspectors identified the weaknesses in entry supervision and cleaning arrangements?
- 05When were the other areas of the service last inspected and rated?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control; Safe was inspected but not rated, and the other four areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 May 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.
Every inspection of Homeleigh
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- July 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2021Goodstayed GoodSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 May 2016.
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 Manchester
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 £1,260 a week. 89 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
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.