CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Kestrels
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found safeguarding training, individual risk assessments, suitable staffing levels and safe medicine systems. One medicine error had occurred in the previous 12 months and was dealt with quickly.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and support plans contained detailed health and wellbeing information. People were supported with healthcare, food choices, decision-making and independence.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described as kind and caring. People said they were treated with dignity and respect, and support was provided to maintain relationships, privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly individualised and adapted to changing needs. People were supported with meaningful activities, work experience, community involvement and leading their own reviews.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an experienced management and staff team, regular audits and systems for listening to people and families. Records were described as detailed, current and well kept.
What inspectors found, January 2018
Kestrels was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe and highly personalised care, with Outstanding responsiveness.
This was an unannounced inspection on 18 December 2017. One inspector reviewed records for four people, spoke with four people and three staff, observed another person, and sought views from health and safeguarding professionals.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. It was rated Outstanding for Responsive. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicine support, detailed care plans, kind relationships and good management.
The Outstanding rating for Responsive reflected highly individual care, activities linked to people's interests, support for independence and quick responses to changing needs. The home was still rated Good overall because four of the five areas were rated Good.
At the previous inspection on 16 December 2015, the home was rated Good in every area. The overall rating remained Good, with Responsive improving to Outstanding.
Personalised support
Care plans were highly individual and regularly reviewed. People were involved in their reviews and supported to take control of their plans.
“People's needs were discussed with them and they were supported to take control of their own reviews and support plans.” from the report
Meaningful activities
Activities matched people's interests, needs and abilities. Everyone living in the home took part in some form of work experience or volunteering in the local community.
“They were provided with varied and meaningful activities which enhanced their lifestyles.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors found that staff knew people well and supported them with patience, kindness, dignity and respect.
“People continued to be supported by a caring and committed staff team who continued to meet people's needs with patience and kindness.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are people's care plans and risk assessments reviewed when their emotional or health needs change?
- 02What has been learned from the medicine administration error mentioned in the report, and how are medicines checked now?
- 03Are people still supported to take part in work experience, volunteering, college and community activities?
- 04How are people currently involved in their own reviews, support plans and decisions about their home?
- 05What staffing arrangements are in place during the day and overnight?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC question areas, with the overall quality of the home and both care and premises considered. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 January 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 Kestrels
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 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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42 live-in carers within about an hour of West Berkshire
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. 36 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“Titus has compassion, patience, a great sense of humour and a very professional attitude.”
“Barbara treated my mother-in-law with enormous love and compassion and provided an environment where she could feel safe and seen”
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.