CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Rhyme House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm, and staff understood their individual risks and how to respond. Inspectors found enough suitably skilled staff and safe systems for medicines, infection control and emergencies.
- Effective?
- Good
- Not rated in this focused inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- Not rated in this focused inspection, although inspectors observed positive interactions and reported kind and compassionate care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Not rated in this focused inspection, although staff supported people's communication, choices, activities and personal goals.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was consistently managed and well-led. Managers were approachable, used audits to identify improvements and worked with health and social care professionals.
What inspectors found, July 2022
Rhyme House rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with no evidence of current risk from the safeguarding concern that prompted the visit.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 16 June 2022. Inspectors looked only at Safe and Well-led, after concerns about restrictive practices and abuse. They spoke with four people, two relatives and five staff, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, suitable risk assessments and appropriate safeguarding processes. They found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from the concern that led to the inspection.
Inspectors also found kind care, support for people's choices and goals, and managers who were visible and approachable. The overall rating stayed Good, as did the previous rating published on 7 November 2017.
Support for personal goals
Staff helped people work towards their own aspirations and encouraged independence in everyday activities.
“Staff supported people to reach their aspirations and goals.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed positive staff interactions. People were supported with privacy, dignity and their individual ways of communicating.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Enough skilled staff
There were enough staff to meet people's needs, including one-to-one support for activities and visits.
“The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe.” from the report
Good management oversight
Managers were visible and approachable. Audits were used to identify issues, such as staff medication training that needed completing.
“Governance processes were effective and helped to hold staff to account, keep people safe, protect people's rights and provide good quality care and support.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What has changed since the safeguarding concern about restrictive practices and abuse?
- 02How do you check that any restrictive practice is necessary, lawful and the least restrictive option?
- 03How will you support my relative's individual communication method, including any personalised signs, pictures or symbols?
- 04How will you help my relative work towards their own goals and take part in activities outside the home?
- 05How are medication training and audits kept up to date for all staff?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other three key questions were not rated and the overall rating remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 July 2022 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 2017
Rated Good and remained Good; inspectors found safe, caring and well-managed support that promoted independence.
Inspectors visited the home without notice on 26 September 2017. One inspector spoke with a resident, the manager, staff and relatives. They observed how people and staff interacted, and checked care plans, risk assessments, recruitment, training, medicines and quality records.
The home supported ten young people with learning disabilities, some also living with autism. Inspectors found enough suitably recruited staff, safe medicines support and good training. People were involved in managing risks, making decisions, planning support, choosing activities and preparing food.
Inspectors found caring relationships and communication tailored to each person. The home worked with families and health professionals, responded to complaints, and used feedback and incident reviews to make improvements. All five areas were rated Good, and the home remained Good compared with the previous inspection in August 2015.
Promoting independence
People were supported to make choices, take manageable risks and stay involved in their own support. Staff aimed to use the least restrictive approach.
“People were supported to make their own decisions and remain as independent as possible.” from the report
Caring relationships
Inspectors saw people and staff chatting and laughing together. Staff knew people's preferences and used personalised communication tools.
“People were supported by staff who knew them well and who had built positive relationships with them.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff for people's needs and activities. Recruitment checks, medicines training and competency assessments were in place.
“People were supported by enough staff to meet their needs and staffing levels were based around people's activities.” from the report
Choice and meaningful activities
People planned activities they enjoyed, including outings, college, day services, social events and household tasks.
“People took part in a range of activities which they enjoyed.” from the report
Learning and improvement
The home reviewed incidents and feedback, then made changes. Inspectors found these changes had helped reduce incidents and provide a quieter space.
“Regular audits had been carried out to monitor the quality of the service and improvements had been made because of actions taken.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess whether my relative's needs fit with the other people living here before they move in?
- 02How will my relative be involved in writing and updating their care plan and setting their own goals?
- 03Which communication tools would you use if my relative found it difficult to understand choices or explain how they feel?
- 04How would staffing levels be arranged around my relative's activities, appointments and visits to family?
- 05How would you support my relative to manage their medicines more independently if their ability changed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including observations, discussions and checks of care, staffing, medicines and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 November 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 Rhyme House
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 November 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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.