CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 30 Old Church Lane
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Outstanding
- People were protected from harm and staff understood how to respond to risks and behaviour. Medicines audits found no shortfalls, and no medicines administration errors had been recorded since the previous inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training, regular supervision and knowledge of people's needs. People were supported with healthcare, nutrition and lawful decision-making.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff treated people with kindness and respect. The home helped people build relationships, learn daily living skills and become more independent.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and activities reflected people's interests, abilities and goals. However, records did not clearly show how people had taken part in care-plan reviews.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The home had an open, inclusive culture and strong systems for checking quality and safety. People, relatives and staff were invited to suggest improvements.
What inspectors found, May 2018
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally safe, kind and well-led care, with weaker evidence that people took part in care-plan reviews.
Inspectors visited on 25 January 2018. The visit was announced. They spoke with people, a relative, a volunteer, staff and managers. They also reviewed care plans, training records, medicines records and quality checks.
The home supported eight people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and supported by staff who knew them well. Medicines were managed safely, and the home had helped reduce medicines used to manage behaviour.
The overall rating remained Outstanding, as it was at the previous inspection in November 2015. Safe, caring and well-led were Outstanding. Effective and responsive were Good. Well-led improved from Good to Outstanding.
Safe medicines support
Medicines were regularly checked and managed safely. The home had reduced and stopped medicines used to manage behaviour for the people living there at the time.
“no medicines administration errors had been documented since our inspection in November 2015.” from the report
Kind, respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind and respectful. Staff understood people's routines, preferences and communication needs.
“They treat [name] with kindness and respect.” from the report
Building independence
People were taught everyday skills in small steps. This supported greater confidence and independence, including with dressing, making tea and work activities.
“This had led to people gaining greater independence and confidence in doing things on their own.” from the report
Good healthcare support
People had detailed health action plans and hospital passports. Staff arranged specialist healthcare when needed and worked with relatives and professionals.
“There was evidence of regular consultation with specialist healthcare professionals.” from the report
Strong family involvement
Relatives could attend family surgeries and other forums. The home gave them opportunities to discuss care, raise concerns and suggest changes.
“The family surgery also gave people and their relatives an added opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have.” from the report
Effective quality checks
The home carried out regular checks on medicines, safety, the building, people's welfare and staff practice. Identified shortfalls were dealt with appropriately.
“Norwood – 30 OCL has a well-embedded and effective quality assurance monitoring system (QAMS) in place.” from the report
Care-plan review records
needs fixingAlthough care plans were detailed and had been updated, the records did not clearly show how people had taken part in the review process. The home was changing its care-plan format.
“there was no clear documentation in how people had taken part in the review process.” from the report
- 01How does the current care-plan format record the person's involvement in reviews?
- 02Who is now responsible for day-to-day management, and was the acting manager registered with CQC as planned?
- 03How will you continue to reduce medicines used to manage behaviour if this is needed?
- 04How are relatives involved in important care, health and best-interest decisions?
- 05What activities, work or volunteering could support my relative's interests and independence?
This was an announced inspection of the whole care home, covering all five CQC questions and reviewing care, records, staff training and quality monitoring. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 May 2018 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 30 Old Church Lane
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- May 2018Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- January 2016OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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 Harrow
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 £1,330 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult 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.