CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 96 Harrowdene Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found suitable safeguarding, risk assessment, staffing, medicines and infection control arrangements. They found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from the concerns that prompted the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not inspected during this focused visit. The previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management roles, effective audits and action plans, good communication with relatives and partnership working with other professionals.
What inspectors found, July 2021
Real Life Options - 96 Harrowdene Road was rated Good; inspectors found safe, personalised care, with some minor maintenance still to address.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 03 June 2021. One inspector reviewed Safe and Well-led because of concerns about an allegation of neglect, incidents and COVID-19 testing. The inspector spoke with staff, relatives and professionals, observed care and checked care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found safeguarding systems, personalised risk assessments, safe medicines processes, suitable recruitment and enough trained staff. They found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from the concerns that prompted the inspection.
People were treated with respect and supported to make choices, stay independent and take part in activities. Inspectors found good communication with relatives and effective work with health and social care professionals. Some areas of the building looked tired, and minor maintenance work was still planned.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only. The other three ratings were not inspected and were carried forward from earlier comprehensive inspections.
Personalised support
Care plans were detailed and tailored to each person. Staff knew people's needs, interests and preferences and supported their independence.
“People's care and support were personalised. Staff knew people well.” from the report
Respectful care
Inspectors saw positive engagement and respectful, caring interactions between staff and people living in the home.
“People were treated with respect and dignity.” from the report
Safety systems
The home had safeguarding procedures, personalised risk assessments, safety checks and trained staff. Medicines were stored, given and monitored safely.
“People had detailed personalised up to date risk assessments.” from the report
Family communication
Relatives said they were kept informed about healthcare appointments, changes in needs and visiting arrangements. Families were also supported to keep in touch during the pandemic.
“People's relatives told us they were kept well informed about people's progress and of any issues to do with their care.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The home reviewed incidents, shared lessons with staff and provided further training when guidance had not been followed.
“Lessons learnt were shared with staff through supervision, handovers and staff meetings.” from the report
Minor maintenance
minorSome parts of the building, including the upstairs bathroom, looked tired. The registered manager said redecoration, blinds and other minor maintenance issues would be addressed.
“However, there were some areas of the premises including the upstairs bathroom that were 'tired' looking.” from the report
- 01What maintenance has now been completed in the upstairs bathroom and other areas described as tired?
- 02How will you support my relative to communicate choices, discomfort or concerns?
- 03How will my relative be supported to take part in activities and access the community?
- 04How will you keep me informed about changes in my relative's needs, healthcare appointments and incidents?
- 05How do you check that staff continue to follow each person's medicines and risk assessment guidance?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 July 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, August 2019
Real Life Options - 96 Harrowdene Road was rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some records and environmental improvements still needed.
This was a planned inspection on 18 and 23 July 2019. One inspector spoke with people, staff, relatives and the manager, observed care, and checked care records, staff files and quality checks.
The home supported four people at the time, although it was registered for six people with learning disabilities who may have physical needs. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and supported by staff who knew them well.
Care plans were personalised and up to date. People were supported with medicines, health appointments, meals, communication, activities and relationships. The home had systems to monitor quality and deal with complaints.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings in all five areas. This was unchanged from the previous inspection. Inspectors noted some minor improvements were still needed, including fuller details on spending receipts, work to the conservatory and further development of end of life plans.
Personalised care
Care plans described people's needs, preferences and routines. Staff knew how each person wanted to be supported.
“People's care and support plans were up to date and personalised.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw positive interactions. Relatives spoke highly of how people were treated, and staff supported privacy, dignity and personal choices.
“Staff interacted with people in a friendly caring way.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to take part in activities they enjoyed and to keep in touch with family and friends.
“People were supported to lead meaningful lives. They participated in a range of social activities that met their needs and preferences.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home carried out regular checks and used action plans to address problems found by staff or outside agencies.
“There were systems in place to ensure people always received good quality care and were safe.” from the report
Incomplete spending receipts
minorSome receipts did not list every item bought. The report said this could increase the risk of financial abuse, and staff said it would be addressed.
“However, we noted that not all receipts of purchases included full details of the items bought.” from the report
Conservatory work
needs fixingThe conservatory needed repair and blinds to reduce the risk from excessive summer heat. People were not using the area at the time and action had started.
“The conservatory needed repair and blinds to minimise the risk of people being harmed from excessive heat during the summer months.” from the report
End of life planning
needs fixingThe home was not providing end of life care at the time. The manager said plans needed to be developed further so people's wishes would be recorded.
“The manager and team coordinator told us they would ensure people's end of life plans were further developed” from the report
Signage
minorThe manager said signage would be improved to make the home easier for people to understand and use.
“The manager told us they would make improvements to the signage within the home to make the environment more enabling and supportive for people.” from the report
- 01Have all purchase receipts been changed so they show full details of every item bought for residents?
- 02Has the conservatory been repaired and have blinds been fitted to reduce the risk from excessive heat?
- 03What improvements have been made to signage and accessible picture boards for people who communicate through signs, pictures or gestures?
- 04How are each person's end of life wishes now recorded, and what training would staff receive if this care became necessary?
- 05Has the manager completed the process of registering with the CQC, and who is legally responsible for the home while this is ongoing?
This was a planned comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 August 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 96 Harrowdene Road
5 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvement
- May 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 April 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Brent
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. 74 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
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