CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Mill Lane
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, staffing arrangements, medicine systems, equipment checks and learning from incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff worked with health professionals. Staff had training and support, and people were helped with food, drink, health appointments and independence.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect. Staff used different communication methods so people could express their views and take part in decisions.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Support was highly personalised and flexible. Staff helped people pursue ambitious goals, maintain relationships, take part in the community and develop confidence and independence.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Leadership was described as exceptional. The manager involved people, relatives and staff in running the home, and audits and feedback were used to improve quality.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally responsive and well-led care, with safe, effective and caring support rated Good.
Inspectors visited the home on 1 May 2019. They spoke with people using the service, the manager and staff. They reviewed care records, risk assessments, monitoring records and management records, and contacted other organisations for their views.
Five people were living at the home. Inspectors found that staff knew people very well and supported their choices, independence, communication and personal goals. People were helped to take part in work, activities, relationships and community life.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Caring. It was rated Outstanding for Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating was Outstanding. This was the first inspection since the service underwent a registration change on 4 May 2018.
Choice and independence
Staff helped people make choices, gain new skills and become more independent. People were supported to have control over their daily lives.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and becoming more independent.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff understood people's interests, needs and ambitions. They found creative ways to help people achieve goals that could be complicated by health conditions.
“People received personalised care and support that was very responsive to their current needs and future goals.” from the report
Communication
The home used pictorial guidance, visual prompts, written information, reading, speech and sign language to involve people in decisions.
“These various methods helped staff, alongside the person where possible, identify the persons aspirations and goals and plan the review of each person’s care.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported them at their own pace. Inspectors saw calm, gentle and respectful interactions.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Strong leadership
The manager and staff had a clear focus on improving the service. Quality checks, feedback and staff development were used to maintain standards.
“A programme of effective quality assurance and audits was in place.” from the report
Redecoration needed
minorThe provider's monitoring identified that some areas of the home needed redecoration. The report does not say whether this had been completed by publication.
“Areas for improvement were recorded and these included that a redecoration of the service was required in some areas.” from the report
- 01Which areas needed redecoration in 2019, and has this work now been completed?
- 02How many permanent staff currently work at the home, and when are agency staff used?
- 03How would staff communicate with my relative if they use limited speech or need visual or sign-language support?
- 04How would you support my relative to pursue their own interests, work, relationships or community activities?
- 05How are relatives involved in reviewing and updating care and support plans?
This planned inspection looked at all five CQC questions, including both the care provided and the premises; the home was not registered to provide nursing care. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 June 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 Mill Lane
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- June 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- April 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 April 2018.
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
17 live-in carers within about an hour of Cambridgeshire
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 £1,020 to £1,200 a week. 14 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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.