CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Arbour Street
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using personal protective equipment safely, admitting people safely and keeping its infection-control policy up to date.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control arrangements before the short-break home reopened.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 21 April 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. No one was staying at the home during the visit, although one person was due to arrive later that day.
The home had recently reopened after being closed during the pandemic. Inspectors found arrangements for testing, visitor screening, social distancing, personal protective equipment and cleaning. The maximum number of people was reduced from four to two so current guidance could be followed.
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable infection-control arrangements. They did not give an overall quality rating, and this visit did not assess all five areas of care.
Safe reopening
The home took steps to make the service safe before reopening after its pandemic closure.
“The registered manager took appropriate steps to ensure the service was safe before reopening and implemented new policies and procedures to keep people safe.” from the report
Testing and admission
People needed a negative COVID-19 test before admission, and the home provided testing and support where needed.
“The service provided people with tests and any support they may need to carry them out, prior to their admission.” from the report
Clear information
People were given information in an easy-read format about staying safe and the new infection-control processes.
“Each person who used the service had access to an easy read, accessible guide that gave them information about how to keep safe” from the report
Family involvement
Families were asked how well they were being kept informed, and their feedback was acted on when needed.
“Relatives were asked if they felt any further steps could be taken to ensure their family members were kept safe and feedback was acted upon when required.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What is the current maximum number of people who can use the home at one time?
- 02What testing is now required before a person arrives for a short break?
- 03How are visitors screened and supported to visit safely?
- 04How do you make sure suitable personal protective equipment is available for all staff?
- 05How will you give my relative information about staying safe in a format they can understand?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with Safe inspected but not rated; the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 April 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.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised support, with improvements since the previous inspection.
The inspection took place on 10 January 2019. One inspector spoke with two people using the service, a relative, a staff member and the manager. They also observed care and checked records, medicines, staff training and management checks.
The home supported people safely and respectfully. Staff were trained, risks and medicines were managed, and people were helped to make choices and stay independent. People received support that matched their needs, interests and preferences.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors found consistently good care across all five areas. The rating had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection.
Safe, trained support
Inspectors found that staff were safely recruited and had the skills and knowledge needed to provide safe and effective support.
“People were supported by safely recruited staff who had the skills and knowledge to provide safe and effective support.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff treated people with kindness, protected their privacy and supported them to make choices about their care.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Personalised activities
People took part in activities and community life that mattered to them, including dancing, yoga, art, shopping and swimming.
“People were supported to be involved in hobbies and interests that were important to them.” from the report
Improved management
The home had improved its records and monitoring systems since the last inspection. Feedback from people, relatives and staff was used to make changes.
“At this inspection improvements had been made.” from the report
Some information was missing from records
minorThe records checked did not always include protected characteristics such as religion and sexual orientation. The manager corrected this during the inspection.
“We fed this back to the registered manager who immediately ensured this information was recorded.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure my relative's risks are reviewed and their independence is supported safely?
- 02How will you record and use my relative's personal information, including their religion and sexual orientation?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be available during a short break or home care visit?
- 04How will you involve my relative and our family in planning and reviewing their care?
- 05How can we raise a concern or complaint, and how will you respond to it?
This was a planned inspection covering all five areas of the home and its personal care service; inspectors reviewed one person's care records and medicines records. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 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 Arbour Street
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 August 2015.
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 Staffordshire
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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.