CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Loose Valley Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control. They found effective use of protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing, visitor checks and plans for managing COVID-19.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, June 2021
Loose Valley Nursing Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and support for family contact during the pandemic.
The inspection took place on 31 March 2021 and was announced. It was a targeted inspection looking at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, 15 people lived in the home, which could accommodate up to 39 people.
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, arranged testing, kept the building clean, and had plans to prevent or manage infection outbreaks. Visitors had health checks, temperature checks and lateral flow tests, and visits were arranged to reduce contact between people.
The home also helped people keep in touch with family and friends by telephone, internet, garden visits, window visits and visits in a dedicated room. Staff supported activities and created a mobile shop so people could buy personal items while unable to go out.
The service was marked 'Inspected but not rated'. This means the inspection checked infection control arrangements but did not give an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas of care.
Family contact
The home used several ways to help people stay in touch with friends and family, including telephone, internet, garden, window and room visits.
“The service supported people to maintain safe contact with friends and family.” from the report
Visitor safety
Visitors entered through a separate entrance and had health screening, temperature checks and lateral flow tests. Visits were staggered to allow cleaning between them.
“The provider had measures in place to prevent visitors from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors found supplies of protective equipment, regular testing, enhanced cleaning and plans to isolate people if needed.
“We were assured that the provider was using personal protective equipment effectively and safely.” from the report
Activities and independence
Staff arranged activities and introduced a mobile shop so people could continue buying personal items while they could not go to outside shops.
“Staff ensured people's welfare had been maintained by facilitating activities.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 31 March 2021?
- 02How do you currently manage visits, including screening, testing and cleaning between visits?
- 03What happens if a resident or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, and how are people isolated safely?
- 04How do you support residents to keep in touch with family and take part in activities?
- 05When were the home's other care areas, such as medicines, staffing and people's individual care needs, last fully assessed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not provide ratings for the other key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 June 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
Loose Valley Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-managed care with no serious concerns.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 17 and 19 December 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and managers. They observed care and checked care records, staffing, training and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, up-to-date care plans, suitable support with food and drink, and care that respected people's dignity, choices and independence.
The home had remained Good overall since the previous full inspection. The Safe rating had improved from Requires Improvement in 2016 to Good after a focused inspection in 2017. Inspectors found no evidence of serious risks or concerns at this inspection.
Care planning and risk management
Care plans and risk assessments were detailed, regularly reviewed and gave staff clear guidance about people's specific needs and risks.
“Care plans and risk assessments were comprehensive, reviewed and kept up to date, they identified any specific conditions and anticipated where people may need further help and support to keep them safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found that staff treated people with kindness and compassion. Staff supported privacy, dignity, choice and independence.
“People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff understood the importance of promoting and respecting people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Food and health support
People were offered varied food and support suited to their dietary needs. Staff monitored nutrition, hydration and long-term health conditions.
“People were supported to eat and drink enough. Kitchen staff ensured people had access to a variety of food choices.” from the report
Staffing and safety
Inspectors found enough nursing and care staff to meet people's needs. Staffing levels were reviewed when people's needs changed.
“There were enough nursing and care staff to keep people safe and meet their needs.” from the report
Open management
Staff described the management as supportive and fair. Regular audits and meetings were used to monitor the service and act on feedback.
“Staff felt there continued to be an open culture; they were kept informed about any changes in people's needs, their job and role.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's particular needs if they have dementia, communication difficulties, mobility problems or a long-term health condition?
- 02How do you review staffing levels when people's care needs change?
- 03How would you support my relative with their eating, drinking and any special diet?
- 04What activities and one-to-one support would be available if my relative could not or did not want to join group activities?
- 05How would you involve our family in care reviews and decisions about future or end-of-life care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering the overall quality and safety of the home, including accommodation and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 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 Loose Valley Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 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.
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
39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.