CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at National Star at Ledbury Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were assessed, staff understood safeguarding procedures, medicines were managed safely and there were enough staff to support people safely. They noted that sickness had sometimes caused delays while waiting for agency staff.
- Effective?
- Good
- People’s needs and choices were assessed and reviewed. Staff received induction, training and support, and worked with health professionals to provide effective care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed to be kind and caring. People’s privacy, dignity, independence and involvement in decisions were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans recorded people’s wishes and preferences. Staff supported hobbies, religious choices and different communication needs, and complaints were handled appropriately.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective management, quality monitoring and staff support. Relatives and staff spoke positively about the home’s leadership and culture.
What inspectors found, December 2021
National Star at Ledbury Road was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, safe and person-centred care, with some past staffing delays.
This was the home’s first inspection since it registered. It was unannounced and took place on 10 November 2021. One inspector reviewed care records, medicines records, policies and quality checks, observed care, and spoke with staff, relatives and a health professional.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff to support people safely, up-to-date care plans and risk assessments, safe medicines practice, and good infection control.
People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff supported people to make choices, stay independent and take part in activities. The home’s systems for checking quality and learning from incidents were working effectively.
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were received, stored and administered safely. Staff were trained and their competence was checked regularly.
“People received their medicines as prescribed by staff who were trained in the administration of medicines and regularly had their competencies checked.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. Inspectors saw a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with people’s privacy and dignity protected.
“Staff were observed to be kind and caring in their interactions with people. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly.” from the report
Choice and independence
The home supported people to make choices, remain independent and have control over their daily lives.
“The service maximised people's choice, control and independence.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded individual wishes and preferences. Staff supported people to take part in activities such as swimming and horse-riding.
“Staff understood the importance of people having fulfilled active lives which included them taking part in hobbies such as swimming sessions and horse-riding.” from the report
Good management checks
The home had quality assurance systems, regular staff supervision and meetings, and processes for learning from incidents.
“Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the service and identify areas for improvement.” from the report
Staffing delays during sickness
needs fixingA staff member said that sickness had sometimes led to a delay in agency staff arriving. The manager said support could be provided by staff from the wider organisation while waiting.
“Sometimes due to staff sickness the staffing levels had dropped and there was a delay in agency staff arriving to support them.” from the report
- 01How do you maintain safe staffing levels when staff are off sick?
- 02How quickly can replacement or agency staff arrive when cover is needed?
- 03How are people’s communication plans used in everyday care?
- 04How are relatives involved when care plans are reviewed or decisions are made in a person’s best interests?
- 05How do you check that people can continue taking part in their chosen hobbies and activities?
This was an unannounced first inspection covering all five CQC questions, as well as infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 December 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.
Every inspection of National Star at Ledbury Road
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- December 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at National Star at Ledbury Road →
- December 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 December 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.
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11 live-in carers within about an hour of Herefordshire, County of
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 £960 to £1,410 a week. 10 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.