CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 28a King Henrys Walk
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough suitable staff, detailed and regularly reviewed risk assessments, safeguarding training and safe medicines records. Fire protection and warning systems were being upgraded during the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff training, supervision and appraisals were in place. People could choose meals, and the home supported healthcare needs, although there had been some difficulty obtaining community nursing support.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff knew people well and supported them respectfully. Inspectors saw people being involved in their care, making choices and being supported to maintain their individuality and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were updated before each stay and included personal, communication and support needs. The home used pictures, symbols and Makaton, and had a complaints process, although no complaints had been made in the previous year.
- Well-led?
- Good
- There was a clear management structure, regular team meetings and systems for checking care quality. Feedback was collected from people and relatives, and the provider carried out wider reviews.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised respite care, with some difficulties obtaining community nursing support.
This was an unannounced inspection on 26 and 30 October 2018. One inspector spoke with people using the service, staff and managers, observed care, and reviewed five care plans, medicines records, staff records, complaints and safety checks.
The home provides short respite stays for up to 10 people with learning disabilities and other complex needs. Inspectors found detailed risk assessments, suitable staffing, safe medicines arrangements and care plans that supported people's communication, choices and independence.
All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The home was meeting all the regulations examined. It had also been rated Good at the previous inspection on 31 March 2016.
Medicines handled safely
The home had people's prescribed medicines available and inspectors found no gaps in the records showing when medicines were given.
“All prescribed medicines were available at the home on the day of our inspection visit. We found no gaps in the recording of when medicines were given to people.” from the report
Respectful support
Staff supported people in a non-confrontational way and did not assume that people could not make choices or take part in their care.
“Our observations showed that people were supported to be involved in their care and did not assume that people lacked the ability to do so.” from the report
Accessible communication
Care plans and staff practice reflected different communication needs, including the use of pictures, symbols and Makaton sign language.
“This included using pictures and symbols, Makaton sign language as well as consideration of how verbal communication was undertaken.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider used audits, feedback, surveys and external reviews to monitor the service and identify possible improvements.
“The provider had a system for monitoring the quality of care.” from the report
Community nursing arrangements
needs fixingThe home had experienced difficulties obtaining community nursing input when this had been arranged. Inspectors said no harm had resulted and the provider was looking at ways to make this support more reliable.
“There had been some difficulties with acquiring community nursing service input” from the report
Fire system works underway
minorA major refurbishment and upgrade of the fire protection and warning system was still underway during the inspection, following advice from the London Fire Brigade.
“At the time of this inspection a major refurbishment and upgrade of the fire protection and warning system was underway as a result of advice provided by the London Fire Brigade.” from the report
- 01What is the current position with the community nursing arrangements, and how will nursing procedures and medicines be covered if support is delayed?
- 02Has the refurbishment and upgrade of the fire protection and warning system been completed?
- 03Has the manager's application for CQC registration been approved?
- 04How will you update our relative's care plan before each respite stay, including changes in health, communication and support needs?
- 05How will you support our relative to make choices and communicate if they do not use words?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions; the report says the previous overall rating was Good on 31 March 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 January 2019 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 28a King Henrys Walk
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 January 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.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Islington
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. 74 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
“The interaction she gives my mother is incredible, singing, dancing, taking her to groups, on plenty of walks which mum always loves.”
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.