CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Pemdale
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control. They found arrangements for safe visiting, social distancing, admissions, testing, protective equipment, cleaning and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 26 February 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found the home was clean. Staff used personal protective equipment correctly, washed their hands properly and received related training. Cleaning, testing, visiting and social distancing arrangements were in place.
There were plans for managing an outbreak or isolating people with COVID-19 symptoms. The manager monitored important infection control matters, including supplies of protective equipment.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean home
The home was clean, with key areas cleaned regularly and daily.
“The home was clean. Cleaning schedules showed key areas were cleaned regularly and on a daily basis.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff were seen using protective equipment and washing their hands correctly. They had received training and refresher training.
“We observed staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and washing their hands correctly.” from the report
Outbreak planning
Plans were in place to manage an outbreak or to isolate people with COVID-19 symptoms.
“There were plans in place to manage an outbreak or if a person developed COVID-19 symptoms to isolate people and cohort staff.” from the report
Monitoring infection control
The manager monitored important infection control matters, including supplies of protective equipment.
“The manager was monitoring key aspects of infection protection control (IPC) such as PPE stock levels to promote people's safety.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now check that key areas are cleaned regularly and daily?
- 02How do staff receive PPE training and refresher training?
- 03How would you isolate someone who developed COVID-19 symptoms?
- 04How do you manage visitors and social distancing at the home?
- 05How do you monitor PPE supplies and access testing for people and staff?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 March 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.
What inspectors found, July 2019
Pemdale is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with small staffing and recruitment points to watch.
This was an unannounced inspection on 13 June 2019. One inspector observed care for all four people living at the home, spoke with staff and managers, and checked care, medicines, staffing and other records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were treated with dignity, supported to make choices, helped to stay healthy and offered activities, trips and holidays.
The previous inspection had rated the home Requires Improvement, with several breaches of regulations. This inspection found improvements in all areas and confirmed that the provider was no longer in breach.
Improved safety
The home had improved its upkeep, cleanliness and safety checks since the previous inspection. Risks were recorded in people's support plans.
“Action had been taken to improve the upkeep and maintenance of the home to promote people's safety and wellbeing.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff treated people with kindness and compassion, respected their privacy and supported their individual ways of communicating.
“At this inspection we found people were treated with kindness and compassion.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make daily choices, try new experiences and develop practical skills. The building and equipment helped people move around and take part in activities.
“Staff encouraged people through individual goals to try new experiences and to develop their independent living skills and social inclusion.” from the report
More activities
People had more opportunities for trips, events, exercise and holidays than at the previous inspection. Each person had an activity planner.
“At this inspection this had improved. Staff talked to us about people's forthcoming plans to go on holiday and day trips.” from the report
Stronger leadership
Inspectors found a more positive culture under the new manager. Staff described the home as better organised and happier.
“Without exception, staff told us they were feeling more positive since the new registered manager had started.” from the report
Staffing if occupancy increases
minorThere were enough staff at the inspection, but the home planned to review and increase staffing if new people moved in.
“However, work was planned to review and increase staffing levels in the event of new people moving in.” from the report
Recruitment form wording
minorThe provider's health declaration form did not clearly say that new staff should declare mental health needs. The manager said this would be clarified.
“The provider's health declaration form did not however make clear that new staff should declare any mental health needs alongside physical health needs.” from the report
- 01How would staffing levels change if another person moved into the home?
- 02Has the staff health declaration form been changed to clearly cover mental health needs?
- 03How often are medicines, care records, staff training and safeguarding checked through audits?
- 04How are each person's communication passport and activity planner kept up to date?
- 05How will families and residents be involved in future wellbeing meetings and improvement plans?
This was an unannounced inspection covering the care provided and the premises, and it assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 July 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 Pemdale
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 June 2011.
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 Central Bedfordshire
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 £1,260 a week. 83 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!”
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
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.