CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Knowle Gate Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including visitors, social distancing, admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, October 2020
Knowle Gate Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about its infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 14 October 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing visitors, social distancing, admissions, protective equipment, testing, cleaning and possible outbreaks safely. They were also assured that the infection control policy was up to date.
The home was not given an overall rating, or a rating for Safe, because this was a focused review rather than a full inspection. The report does not assess the quality of care in the other areas.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections, including safe use of protective equipment and access to testing.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Visits and contact
The home had visitor safety rules and used a screen during some visits. Tablets and staff support helped people stay in touch with relatives and other important people.
“A large mobile Perspex screen was used during some visits to maintain social distancing.” from the report
Support for staff
The home provided free transport for some staff and held wellbeing sessions during the pandemic.
“Wellbeing sessions had been held with staff.” from the report
Cleaning
A cleaning machine was used for deep cleaning, including areas that were difficult to clean by other methods.
“A 'fogger' cleaning machine had been purchased and was used to complete deep cleans of the environment.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have the visitor code of conduct and visiting arrangements changed since the October 2020 inspection?
- 02How is protective equipment used now, and how do you check that staff use it safely?
- 03What testing arrangements are currently in place for residents and staff?
- 04How would you manage an infection outbreak, and when was this process last reviewed?
- 05How often are deep cleans carried out, including in areas that are difficult to clean?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 October 2020 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, March 2020
Knowle Gate Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but staff vacancies caused some unsettled feelings.
This was an unannounced inspection on 05 February 2020. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They observed care and reviewed care records, medicines records, staff recruitment files, rotas and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People felt safe and respected. Inspectors found that risks, medicines, infection control and safeguarding were managed well.
People received personalised care and enjoyed activities, food and access to health professionals. Staff supported people's choices, dignity, independence and relationships. Complaints were handled and lessons were learnt when things went wrong.
There were staff vacancies, and some agency staff were being used temporarily. Some people and relatives felt care would improve when vacancies were filled. The overall rating remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection published in August 2017.
Managing risks
The home assessed risks and reviewed plans so staff knew how to support people safely. Inspectors saw staff following specialist advice for a person at risk of falls.
“Where risks had been identified, risk management plans had been completed and regularly reviewed to support staff to manage risks.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives found staff kind and caring. Inspectors saw warm relationships and found that people's privacy, dignity and choices were respected.
“People felt staff were kind and caring. Relatives shared this view point.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People had a range of activities, including arts and crafts, quizzes and church services. They were also supported with one-to-one activities, community visits and contact with people important to them.
“People were happy with the range of social activities and events available to occupy their time.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The home monitored accidents and incidents and acted on patterns. Extra staff were added at a time when falls were more common, and the number of falls reduced.
“This action had been effective because the number of falls people had experienced had reduced.” from the report
Strong oversight
Inspectors found that managers had a clear view of the service and used quality checks to identify and address problems.
“Good governance was embedded. The effective quality assurance systems quickly identified and addressed any areas that fell below the provider's expectation.” from the report
Staff vacancies
needs fixingThere were vacancies and a small number of consistent agency staff were being used temporarily. Some people and relatives felt the service would improve when vacancies were filled.
“There were some staff vacancies at the home and the registered manager informed us recruiting new staff was one of their main priorities.” from the report
Further personalisation of records
minorCare records contained enough information, but the manager was still adding more detail to make them more personal.
“The registered manager explained they were in the process of adding further information to improve the personalisation of care records.” from the report
- 01How many permanent staff vacancies are there now, and are agency staff still being used?
- 02How do you make sure agency staff know each person's risks, preferences and care needs?
- 03What further information has been added to care records to make care more personalised?
- 04What difference has the electronic medicines management system made, and how are medicines errors checked?
- 05Has the planned electronic care planning system been introduced, and how has it affected staff time with residents?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection that considered all five CQC questions and looked at both the care provided and the home environment. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 March 2020 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 Knowle Gate Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- October 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2020GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 August 2019.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Solihull
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“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.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.