CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Northants Accommodation and Social Care
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Staff understood safeguarding and risk management. Medicine administration records were not being used when people received support with medicines, although the manager took immediate action to introduce them.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and staff received training, induction and supervision. People were supported with food, healthier choices and access to health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well and encouraged them to make choices and do as much as possible for themselves.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's preferences, cultural needs, likes and dislikes. People were supported with hobbies, new interests, relationships and communication.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers carried out checks, listened to feedback and acted on issues. Inspectors noted that the manager recognised areas where record keeping needed improvement and acted immediately.
What inspectors found, January 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, with medicine records needing improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 23 December 2019. The inspector spoke with one person, three staff members and one relative. They also looked at care records, staff recruitment files and management records.
The home supported four people in self-contained flats. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and involved in decisions about their care. Staff knew people well and supported their independence, health, activities and relationships.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Staff were not using medicine administration records when people were supported with medicines, but the manager acted immediately after this was raised. The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection.
Staff knew people well
People received care from a small, established staff team. This helped staff understand their needs, choices and preferences.
“A small long-standing staff team and no use of agency staff meant people received care from a regular group of staff who knew them well.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind and friendly. Staff protected privacy and dignity and supported people without being intrusive.
“One person told us "They give me the support I need without being intrusive.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in planning their care and were encouraged to make decisions and manage their own risks. Staff supported people to do as much as they could for themselves.
“Staff promoted independence and encouraged people to make decisions and manage their own risks.” from the report
Person-centred activities
Care plans recorded people's interests, likes and dislikes. Staff supported people with hobbies, new experiences, volunteering and work-based placements.
“People were helped to pursue their hobbies and pastimes.” from the report
Good management oversight
Managers used audits, feedback, incidents and safeguarding information to identify issues and improve the service.
“The management team monitored the quality of the service, identifying issues and making changes to improve the care provided.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingWhen staff supported some people with medicines, the home was not using medicine administration records to clearly record whether medicines had been taken. The manager introduced these records immediately after the issue was discussed.
“Medicines Administration Records (MAR) were not being used to ensure clear records were made when people had taken their medication.” from the report
- 01How are medicine administration records being completed now, and who checks them?
- 02How will you support my relative to make their own choices and manage risks safely?
- 03How are care plans updated when a person's needs, preferences or health change?
- 04What activities, volunteering or work-based opportunities could suit my relative?
- 05How will you involve my relative and our family in reviewing the care provided?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 January 2020 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, July 2017
Northants Accommodation and Social Care was rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful and personalised care, with some training records needing improvement.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 20 June 2017. One inspector reviewed care records, staff files and management documents, and spoke with people and staff. Only one person using the service was available to speak briefly.
The home supported up to five people in self-contained flats. Four people were living there at the time. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, relevant risk assessments and safe support with medicines.
Care was described as effective, kind and tailored to people's choices. Staff received support and training, although training records and certificates were not always complete. The home had systems for complaints, care plan checks and gathering feedback.
The home was rated Good in all five areas and overall. It was also rated Good at the previous inspection in May 2015, so the overall rating remained unchanged.
Safe staffing and recruitment
The home was staffed at all times and inspectors found consistent staffing levels. Recruitment checks were described as safe and robust.
“The service was staffed at all times, and provided care to people who lived independently within self-contained flats.” from the report
Respectful care
Staff gave people time to express their wishes and respected their privacy and independence.
“The privacy and dignity of people within the service was respected by all the staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included personal histories, preferences, likes and dislikes. Staff knew people's individual needs and interests.
“We saw that all care planning contained detailed preferences, likes and dislikes, and staff had a good knowledge of each person.” from the report
Open management
Staff said they could speak to management and attend meetings. The home also used care plan checks and feedback questionnaires to monitor quality.
“Quality assurance systems were in place to help drive improvements.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now check that every staff member's training is recorded and that certificates are kept?
- 02How many staff are on duty at different times, and how do you make sure people receive timely support?
- 03How are each person's risk assessments kept up to date while supporting their independence?
- 04How do you record and respond to people's complaints, including complaints made using the easy-read procedure?
- 05How do you involve people in reviewing their care plans, activities and daily choices?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five quality areas, but inspectors could speak only briefly with one person using the service because others were unavailable. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 July 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 Northants Accommodation and Social Care
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Northants Accommodation and Social Care →
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Northants Accommodation and Social Care →
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 August 2012.
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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of West Northamptonshire
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 £1,280 a week. 87 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“We can all fully relax around Nyarai and she feels like part of our family, which is no mean feat!”
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.