CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Juniper House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed and care plans guided staff. They also found enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicine systems and suitable infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive and open leadership, regular quality checks, opportunities for feedback and evidence that the home worked with health professionals.
What inspectors found, October 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and positive leadership, but the other three areas were not inspected during this visit.
This was an unannounced inspection on 4 and 5 September 2023. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They also reviewed care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, there were enough staff, medicines were managed safely and infection control arrangements were in place. People and relatives spoke positively about the care.
The management team was described as approachable and open. The home had systems to check quality, respond to feedback and learn from incidents. The overall rating remained Good, as the other three ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection.
Personalised safety plans
People had individual risk assessments and care plans covering areas such as falls, skin care and eating and drinking. Staff understood these plans and followed them.
“People had personalised risk assessments and care plans in place to mitigate risks in relation to many areas of their lives, including falls, skin integrity and eating and drinking.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough nursing and care staff to meet people's needs. People said staff responded when they called for help.
“There were sufficient nursing and care staff to meet the needs of people using the service.” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Medicines were given by registered nurses as prescribed. Records were complete and checks were carried out.
“Medicine administration records (MAR) were fully completed and regularly audited.” from the report
Open management
The home had regular audits, meetings and feedback systems. Inspectors found that managers listened to people, relatives and staff and used information to make improvements.
“Quality assurance systems and processes were in place to identify shortfalls and drive improvement.” from the report
Acting manager arrangement
minorThe registered manager was deployed to support another service, so the deputy manager was acting as manager during the inspection. The report does not describe this as causing a problem, but families may want to ask how leadership is maintained.
“In their absence the deputy manager was in the role of acting manager.” from the report
- 01Who is currently managing the home, and how is management cover arranged when the registered manager is supporting another service?
- 02How do you check that there are enough nursing and care staff on each shift, including at night?
- 03How are individual risks such as falls, skin problems and eating or drinking reviewed when people's needs change?
- 04How are medicine records and as-required medicine instructions checked, and what happens if a problem is found?
- 05What changes have been made in response to recent feedback from people and relatives?
This inspection looked at Safe and Well-led only; the Effective, Caring and Responsive ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 October 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, February 2018
Juniper House rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 24 and 30 November 2017. The inspector observed care, spoke with people, visitors and staff, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment, training, premises and quality checks.
The home supported up to 60 older people, including people needing nursing care and people living with dementia. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, clean and maintained premises, personalised care plans and timely access to healthcare.
People were treated with kindness and dignity. Staff supported people's choices, meals, activities, communication and family contact. The home was rated Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led, and remained Good since the previous inspection in August 2015.
Safe staffing and recruitment
The home had sufficient nurses and care staff. Recruitment checks were completed, including checks on criminal convictions, references and agency workers' experience.
“People were protected by robust recruitment procedures that made sure people did not receive unsafe care from staff that were unsuited to the job.” from the report
Kind and dignified care
Staff supported people at their own pace and respected their privacy, individuality and choices. People and visitors described staff as kind, gentle and friendly.
“They [staff] are all nice to me and ever so gentle when I struggle a bit and need their help.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and changing levels of dependency. Staff knew how people wanted to receive care and supported individual choices.
“People consistently received the care and support they needed in accordance with their initial care assessments and subsequent care reviews as their dependency needs changed over time.” from the report
Dementia support
The dementia area used lighting, signs, colours and smaller living units to help people feel more at ease. Staff were trained to reduce distress and improve wellbeing.
“People with memory loss and perceptual problems arising from their dementia were helped to feel 'more at home' in small family sized units.” from the report
Strong management checks
The manager used audits, feedback and observations to monitor care. Staff described an open and supportive culture with good teamwork.
“Quality assurance systems were in place to help drive improvements in the service throughout the year.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and update my relative's care plan if their needs or level of dependency change?
- 02What dementia support is available, and how will you adapt the environment and communication to my relative?
- 03How will you support my relative with meals, drinks or any special diet recommended by healthcare professionals?
- 04How will my family be involved in decisions about care, treatment and end-of-life care?
- 05How are staffing levels checked each day, including when agency staff are used?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering the premises and care, with all five CQC questions rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 February 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 Juniper House
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 February 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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of West Northamptonshire
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 £1,280 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.