CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Rowland House Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, July 2021
Rowland House Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe care and stronger management, with the previous legal breach resolved.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 24 June 2021. One inspector spoke with managers and staff, reviewed care records, recruitment files, accident records, medicines arrangements and quality checks. They also observed interactions and later spoke with seven family members and two healthcare professionals.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, medicines were handled safely, staffing levels met people's needs, and infection control arrangements were suitable. Staff understood safeguarding and worked with healthcare professionals.
The service had previously been rated Requires Improvement in 2018 because significant events were not always reported to CQC. This inspection found enough improvement, and the provider was no longer in breach. The overall rating changed to Good, but the other three areas were not reviewed during this inspection.
Risks were managed
The home assessed risks in people's care and put plans in place to reduce them. This included support for people with swallowing difficulties.
“Assessments had been carried out to identify any risks in people's care and there were plans in place outlining measures to mitigate these.” from the report
Medicines were safe
Staff who gave medicines were trained and checked as competent. Medicines were ordered, stored, recorded and audited appropriately.
“People's medicines were managed safely. Staff responsible for medicines administration received relevant training and their competency was regularly assessed.” from the report
Stable staffing
Inspectors found enough staff on each shift, with staffing levels based on people's individual needs. Staff retention had remained good during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“There were enough staff on each shift to keep people safe and meet their needs.” from the report
Quality oversight
The manager used audits covering areas such as medicines and health and safety. Accidents and incidents were reviewed so learning could be shared.
“Regular audits of key elements of the service, such as medicines and health and safety, helped ensure people received safe and effective care.” from the report
Communication with families
Families said they were kept informed about changes in their relatives' needs and wellbeing.
“Family members told us staff communicated well with them about their loved ones' care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and manage my relative's specific risks, including any swallowing or eating and drinking needs?
- 02How many staff will be on each shift, and how will staffing change if my relative's needs increase?
- 03How are medicines, including 'as required' medicines, checked and reviewed?
- 04How will you keep our family informed about changes in my relative's health and care?
- 05What quality checks and reviews will be carried out, and how will we be told if something goes wrong?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 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, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, with some further resources suggested.
This was an announced visit on 17 November 2020. It was part of a CQC thematic review of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors looked at how the home managed visitors, social distancing, protective equipment, testing, shielding and possible outbreaks. They were assured that these arrangements were in place and that the infection control policy was up to date.
The visit did not give the home an overall quality rating. The Safe question was inspected but not rated, so this report does not show whether the home is Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate overall.
Visitor safety
The home used booked visits, a room with external access and spaced furniture. PPE was provided for relatives when people could not socially distance.
“We were assured that the provider was preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Protective equipment
Inspectors were assured that PPE was being used effectively and safely.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
Inspectors were assured that testing was available and that the home had arrangements to prevent or manage infection outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Further development suggested
minorThe report does not describe a specific failure, but inspectors signposted the home to resources to develop its infection prevention and control approach.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made since inspectors signposted you to resources to develop your infection prevention and control approach?
- 02How are visits booked and what happens if a visitor or resident cannot socially distance?
- 03How do you provide and check the use of protective equipment during visits?
- 04How often are residents and staff tested, and what happens if there is a positive result?
- 05How do you support people who are clinically vulnerable and need to shield in their room?
This was an announced thematic review focused on infection prevention and control, with the Safe question inspected but not rated; it did not provide ratings for the other four questions or an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 January 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.
Every inspection of Rowland House Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 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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