CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 164 Walker Road
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
What inspectors found, February 2019
Lonsdale Midlands Limited - 164 Walker Road was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 23 January 2019. One inspector reviewed records, medicines, recruitment, training, incidents, complaints and quality checks. They spoke with four people, three relatives, two staff members, the registered manager and two health professionals.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, clean surroundings, suitable care planning and staff who understood people's communication, choices and needs.
People were described as receiving kind and respectful care. Staff supported people to access healthcare, eat and drink well, take part in activities and maintain independence. Care plans were reviewed regularly and relatives were involved.
The home was already rated Good overall at the previous inspection, published in September 2016. This inspection found that it remained Good. The report says CQC will continue monitoring information received and may inspect sooner if concerns arise.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and saw evidence that recruitment checks were completed. Medicines systems covered receipt, storage, administration and disposal.
“Medicines systems were organised and people received their medicines when they should.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and treated them with patience and compassion. Inspectors saw privacy, dignity and independence being respected in daily care.
“We saw that people were supported by kind, patient and caring staff.” from the report
Personalised communication
Staff understood that people were mainly non-verbal and used sign language, gestures and facial expressions to communicate with them. Care plans included people's communication needs.
“People at the home were mainly non-verbal and staff knew how to communicate with people using sign language, gestures and facial expressions.” from the report
Involvement and choice
People and relatives were involved in care planning and reviews. Easy-read care plans and monthly meetings helped people express their views and influence activities.
“People and their families were involved in care planning and their views and wishes respected.” from the report
Quality management
The registered manager carried out checks, reviews, supervision and appraisals. The home also had a development plan and ongoing training.
“We saw that regular checks and reviews on the service took place to ensure the service people received was of the highest quality.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and record my relative's communication needs, and which staff can use the communication methods they rely on?
- 02How will you involve my relative and our family in care planning and regular reviews?
- 03What activities are available that match my relative's interests, and how will staff support them to take part?
- 04How will you manage my relative's dietary, healthcare and religious or cultural needs?
- 05How do you monitor medicines, incidents and risks, and how would you tell us if something went wrong?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; all ratings were assessed during this inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 February 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, September 2016
Lonsdale Midlands Limited - 164 Walker Road is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management.
This was an unannounced inspection on 8 August 2016. One inspector spoke with two people living at the home, two staff members and the registered manager. The inspector also observed care and reviewed care, medicines, staffing and quality records.
The home supported four people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable risk assessments and appropriate checks on new staff. People received care from staff with suitable skills and had access to healthcare, food and drink that met their needs.
People were treated kindly and their privacy, choices and independence were respected. They were supported to take part in activities, keep in touch with family and raise concerns. The registered manager was described as approachable, and quality checks were being used to monitor the service.
The overall rating was Good. All five areas were also rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. At the previous inspection on 30 December 2013, the provider was meeting the requirements inspected.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Medicines were given as prescribed, recorded and stored safely.
“People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff. Medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records were personal to each person and gave staff guidance about individual needs. Records were reviewed when needs changed.
“Care and health needs records were regularly reviewed with people and updated when needs changed.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in everyday decisions and encouraged to do tasks for themselves. Staff adapted communication using pictures, simple words or limited choices.
“We saw staff sought people's views and involved them in making choices about their care and day to day decisions, such as how to spend their time.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People had positive relationships with staff. Inspectors saw staff offering reassurance, respecting privacy and supporting contact with family and friends.
“People were supported to maintain relationships that were important to them.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider used audits, feedback and records of incidents to check care and identify improvements.
“We found the provider had systems and processes in place to audit effectively the quality of care people received.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How often are each person's risk assessments reviewed, including risks linked to travel, noise or activities in the community?
- 02How do you check that medicines given only when needed are supported by clear instructions and accurate records?
- 03How do you support people who do not use words to show consent, refusal or concerns about their care?
- 04What training, supervision and competency checks will the staff supporting my relative receive?
- 05How are feedback, incidents and audits used to make improvements to the home?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions, and included observations, discussions and reviews of care, medicines, staffing and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 September 2016 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 164 Walker Road
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 December 2010.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Walsall
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 £950 to £1,200 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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