CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Options Applegate House
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, and there were enough staff to meet assessed needs. Medicines records were accurately completed and medicines were audited daily.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- Staff had specialist training and used personalised communication and sensory plans. People were supported with health appointments, healthy eating, decision-making and developing daily living skills.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- People were involved in planning their support and activities. Staff understood their personalities, wishes, communication and progress, and promoted independence, dignity and choice.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and person-centred. People were supported to plan holidays, activities, transitions and community involvement, and complaints were investigated and resolved wherever possible.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The home had open leadership, motivated staff and strong quality checks. Managers used feedback, meetings, audits and learning from incidents to improve the service.
What inspectors found, July 2017
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found highly personalised, caring support, with safe and responsive care rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 23 and 27 June 2017. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and professionals, and checked care files, medicines records, recruitment, training, complaints, incidents and audits.
They found a strong person-centred approach. Staff knew people well and supported them to make choices, build skills, take carefully considered risks and become more independent. Care plans included detailed information about communication, sensory needs and behaviour.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Effective, caring and well-led were Outstanding. Safe and responsive were Good. The report says the overall rating remained Outstanding, as it had been at the previous inspection.
Personalised independence
Support was adapted to each person. People were encouraged to make choices, try new things and develop practical skills for more independent living.
“Personalised programmes and flexible staffing arrangements enabled people to learn to live fulfilled and meaningful lives.” from the report
Specialist autism support
The home used sensory assessments, individual communication plans and specialist training to help staff understand and support each person.
“People received an outstanding level of effective care based on current best practice for people with autism.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found a strong person-centred culture. Staff supported people to lead their own planning and respected their wishes, relationships and preferred ways of communicating.
“We saw there was a strong person centred culture apparent within the service.” from the report
Strong leadership
Managers and staff shared clear values and worked together consistently. Audits, feedback and incident reviews were used to monitor and improve care.
“The culture of the service was honest, open and inclusive, which enabled staff to raise concerns.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff to provide personalised support. Recruitment checks, staff training and medicines systems were in place.
“Sufficient staff were available to meet people's needs and to provide personalised care and support with activities.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt support to my relative's communication style, including any non-verbal communication or visual tools they use?
- 02What sensory assessment and support would be completed for my relative, and how would this affect their daily routines and environment?
- 03How would you support my relative to build independence in areas such as travel, money, cooking, laundry or work?
- 04How are relatives involved in care reviews, best-interest decisions and planning activities or holidays?
- 05How do you decide staffing levels and make sure staff have the specialist training needed for my relative's needs?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 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 Options Applegate House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Outstanding rating throughout.
- July 2017Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2015OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 March 2013.
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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32 live-in carers within about an hour of North Lincolnshire
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 £1,300 a week. 29 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
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.