CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Poplars
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks were well managed, the home was clean and there were enough staff. Medicines were stored and given safely, with accurate and up-to-date records.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in. Staff were trained and supervised, supported people with health appointments and meals, and followed the legal process where people could not make particular decisions.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with dignity and respect. They involved people in care planning, understood their preferences and supported them to remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care records were person-centred and regularly reviewed. People took part in activities of their choice, received information in ways they could understand and could use the complaints procedure.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The provider carried out regular checks on areas including medicines, health and safety and infection control. People and staff were consulted, and significant events were reported to CQC in a timely way.
What inspectors found, June 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, respectful and person-centred care, with all five areas rated Good.
This was a planned inspection on 16 May 2019. One inspector reviewed information held by CQC, contacted professionals, spoke with one person living at the home and checked one care record and two staff files.
The inspectors found that people were safe and that risks, medicines, staffing and recruitment were managed properly. Staff were trained and supported. People were treated with dignity, involved in decisions and encouraged to remain independent.
The home supported people to take part in activities they chose and responded to changing needs. The provider had systems for complaints, audits and feedback. The overall rating was Good, and all five areas remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection published in November 2016.
Managing risks
The home had systems to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. It learned from accidents and incidents and made changes to reduce future risks.
“Risks were well managed. Staff understood potential risks and how to mitigate them.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors found suitable arrangements for storing and giving medicines. Records were accurate and checked each month.
“Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe administration and storage of medicines.” from the report
Respect and independence
Staff knew people's needs and preferences, involved them in care planning and supported them to do things for themselves.
“Care records clearly described how staff were to support people to remain as independent as possible.” from the report
Active lives
People were supported to take part in activities they chose in the local community, including discos, cinema visits, walks and shopping.
“People regularly attended events and activities of their choice in the local community.” from the report
Quality checks
The provider used audits, meetings and surveys to monitor the service and gather views from people and staff.
“Regular audits were carried out including medicines, health and safety, and infection control.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's specific communication needs, and how would these needs be recorded in their support plan?
- 02How do you cover staff absences, and how often are agency staff used?
- 03How would you support my relative to attend health appointments and manage their dietary needs?
- 04How do you involve people and families in reviewing care plans when needs change?
- 05How do you check that medicines records remain accurate and that staff remain trained to administer medicines?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, but inspectors spoke with one person, reviewed one person's care records and checked two staff files. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 June 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.
What inspectors found, November 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some repairs still being planned.
This was an unannounced inspection on 7 November 2016. One inspector spoke with four people using the home, the manager and three care staff. They also checked care records, staff files, rotas and quality checks.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities and/or mental health diagnoses. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and staffing was sufficient. Staff were trained and people received help with food, healthcare and decisions about their care.
People described staff as kind and respectful. Care plans reflected people's needs and preferences, and people had choices about daily life, activities and food. The manager was approachable and quality checks were in place.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection in August 2014 had also found an overall good service.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs safely, with extra support available for activities. Medicines were stored and given safely, with guidance for medicines taken when needed.
“There were enough suitably qualified staff available to maintain people's safety and meet their individual needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People said staff were friendly and kind. Inspectors saw staff treating people with dignity, offering reassurance and supporting their independence.
“People were supported by staff who were caring and compassionate.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's histories, preferences and support needs in written and pictorial formats. Staff knew people well and acted when needs changed.
“People received care that was personalised and met their individual needs.” from the report
People had choices
People were involved in decisions about food, activities and holidays. They were supported to use community facilities, see friends and maintain independence.
“People had choice over their daily lives and were supported to have as much control over their lives as possible.” from the report
Open management
People and staff said the manager was approachable and supportive. The home used meetings, surveys, supervision and audits to gather views and monitor quality.
“People and staff told us the registered manager was approachable and staff felt supported in their role.” from the report
Repairs and refurbishment were pending
minorThe report says some windows needed repair or replacement, and plans were in place to redecorate and refurbish parts of the home. Contractors had been contacted but a response was still awaited.
“Some windows required repair or replacement, the registered manager told us that contractors had been contacted and they were currently waiting for their response.” from the report
Some legal authorisations were awaited
needs fixingThe manager had referred some people for authorisation where their freedom of movement was restricted. At the inspection, those authorisations had not yet been granted.
“The registered manager told us they had made referrals for some people to be legally deprived of their liberty and they were waiting for the authorisations to be granted.” from the report
- 01Have the windows that needed repair or replacement now been fixed?
- 02What refurbishment or redecoration has been completed since the inspection?
- 03What is the current position on any outstanding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations?
- 04How would you support my relative's particular interests, friendships and community activities?
- 05How often would my relative's care plan be reviewed, especially if their needs changed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 November 2016 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 Poplars
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2014GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Stoke-on-Trent
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 £1,190 a week. 93 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“She's shown compassion, patience and a level of understanding that no other carer has given.”
“She maintained a great environment for mum both with the tidiness and cleanliness of the house and Mum and with her caring and understanding attitude.”
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.