CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at L'Arche Preston Moor Fold
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse, risks were assessed and there were enough staff. Medicines were stored and given safely, and the home was clean and well maintained.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had induction, training and supervision. People were supported with health care, food and drink, decision-making and access to a suitable environment.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion. People were supported to make choices, keep their privacy and dignity, and remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans contained detailed, person-centred information. People were supported with family contact, hobbies, activities, communication and access to the local community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Quality checks, action plans and feedback systems had improved. People, relatives and staff gave positive feedback about the management and leadership.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with earlier problems in medicines, premises and management now improved.
This was an announced inspection on 05 December 2018. Inspectors observed care, spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and professionals, and checked care records, medicines, staffing, incidents, complaints, maintenance and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safer medicines processes, a clean and well-maintained environment, good training and care plans that reflected people's individual needs.
At the previous inspection in September 2017, the provider had breached rules about medicines, premises and management. The inspectors found these problems had been addressed, so the home was no longer in breach.
Medicines and safety
Medicines systems had improved after the previous inspection. Staff followed safe procedures and individual risks were assessed in a way that aimed to protect independence.
“People's medicines were managed in a safe way and overall governance of the service had improved.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw trusting relationships between staff and the people living in the home. Privacy, dignity and individuality were promoted.
“The service ensured that people were treated with kindness, respect and compassion and that they were given emotional support when needed.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records included accessible information about people's needs, interests, communication and choices. People were involved in reviews and daily decisions.
“People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs.” from the report
Independence and inclusion
People were supported to work, keep friendships, visit relatives and take part in activities inside and outside the home.
“People who lived at the service were supported and encouraged to maintain their independence” from the report
Improved environment
The home was clean, maintained and safer than at the previous inspection. Redecoration and maintenance work had been prioritised.
“The service was clean and well maintained.” from the report
End-of-life care was not tested
minorThe home did not support anyone with end-of-life needs during the inspection. Inspectors discussed the home's procedures, but could not assess how these would work in practice for a current resident.
“The service did not support anyone with end of life needs.” from the report
- 01How are the improved medicines systems checked now, and what happens if a medicine error occurs?
- 02What recent checks have been made on the building, windows, fire safety and other maintenance?
- 03How will you involve my relative in care plan reviews and daily decisions using accessible information?
- 04How do you manage changes in live-in staff, and how will my relative be kept informed?
- 05What plans and support would be put in place if my relative needed end-of-life care?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions; inspectors closely reviewed two people's care records, and the home did not support anyone with end-of-life needs at the time. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 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.
What inspectors found, October 2017
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, effective and responsive care, but unsafe medicines management, cleanliness and oversight led to three breaches.
The unannounced inspection took place on 19 September 2017. Inspectors toured all areas of the home, spoke with two core members, one relative, four assistants and managers, and checked care, staff and quality records.
Inspectors found that people were treated with dignity and respect. Staff were trained, staffing levels met people's needs, meals were freshly prepared, care plans were detailed and people had activities at home and in the community.
However, medicines records had gaps and storage checks were not reliable. Inspectors also found dust, mould, dirt and maintenance problems. The home's checks did not consistently identify or correct these issues.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement. Safe and well-led were Requires Improvement, while effective, caring and responsive were Good. The previous comprehensive inspection in August 2015 rated the home Good overall.
People felt safe
The people inspectors spoke with said they felt safe. Staff understood how to respond to possible abuse.
“Core members told us they felt safe in the home.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw friendly, meaningful interactions. Staff adapted communication and respected people's privacy, dignity and choices.
“Core members were treated with dignity and respect.” from the report
Good support and training
Staff had training, supervision and induction. Staffing numbers and rotas supported people's individual needs.
“There was a training programme in place and assistants we spoke with told us they had received the required training to support their knowledge and skills.” from the report
Choices and activities
People helped plan and prepare meals and had activities inside the home and in the community.
“There was evidence of activities taking place for core members both inside the home as well as in the community.” from the report
Medicines were not managed safely
seriousMedicines records contained gaps and some stock checks were incorrect. Guidance was handwritten on small notes, and fridge and room temperatures were not recorded as required.
“Medication administration records were not always completed in full and gaps were seen.” from the report
Cleanliness and repairs
seriousInspectors found dust, mould, dirt and discarded items. A cupboard was broken, some paintwork was chipped, and food and medicines were stored in the same room.
“We saw some concerns relating to the cleanliness of the home. Some areas of the home were not properly maintained.” from the report
Quality checks were incomplete
seriousSome audits had only recently started, and there were no earlier care-plan audits. The home had not sought feedback from people, relatives, staff or health professionals in recent years.
“The provider failed to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service.” from the report
- 01How are medicines administration records now checked for gaps, and how are stock levels and 'as required' medicines recorded?
- 02How are medicine fridge and room temperatures recorded each day, and what happens if they are outside the recommended range?
- 03Have the mould, dust, dirt, discarded items and broken cupboard identified by inspectors all been dealt with?
- 04How are food and medicines kept separate, and how do you check that cleaning and maintenance tasks are completed?
- 05What regular audits and feedback systems are now in place to identify and correct risks?
This inspection considered all five CQC questions, but inspectors observed only some interactions because most core members were out on activities for much of the day. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 October 2017 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 L'Arche Preston Moor Fold
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.