CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at School Lane
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found individual risk assessments, enough suitable staff, safe recruitment and correct medicines procedures. The home was clean and safety checks, including fire, water and fridge checks, were completed.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in and staff received induction, training and support. People were supported with food, healthcare, positive behaviour plans and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors observed positive, caring interactions in a relaxed atmosphere. People were involved in their support and the running of the home, and staff promoted privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support plans were personalised and focused on people's goals and choices. People used local services and facilities, received information in accessible formats and could raise complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team had oversight of quality, safety and risks. Audits, meetings, surveys and feedback were used to monitor the service and identify improvements.
What inspectors found, December 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no serious risks or concerns identified.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 7 November 2018. One inspector met all three people living at the home, observed staff interactions and checked the environment, care records, medicines, staffing records and quality checks. The inspector also spoke with staff, managers, relatives and a health professional.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicines systems, individual risk assessments and clean premises. People were supported to make choices, stay independent, access healthcare and take part in their communities.
Care was described as kind, respectful and tailored to each person. The report says there had been a significant reduction in behaviour that challenges, with no use of restrictive interventions or as-required medicines for this in the previous year. The rating stayed Good, as it had been at the previous inspection in April 2016.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough suitable staff to meet people's needs. Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely, including as-required medicines.
“Medicines, including 'as required' medicines, were received, stored, administered and disposed of correctly.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in everyday decisions, including shopping, cooking, care planning and interviewing new staff. Staff supported people to do as much as possible for themselves.
“People were encouraged to be involved with all aspects of their support and the home, from shopping and cooking meals to interviewing for new staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors observed a relaxed atmosphere and found that privacy, dignity and family contact were supported.
“We observed positive and caring interactions throughout the day and there was a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in the home.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans covered what mattered to each person, including their goals, likes, dislikes and preferred way of receiving support. People were supported to use community, health and leisure facilities.
“Support plans focused on outcomes for people and the support they needed to meet these outcomes and to be in control of their own lives.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and update my relative's individual risks before they moved in?
- 02How would you support my relative if they showed behaviour that challenges, and how would you minimise restrictive interventions or as-required medicines?
- 03What training and competency checks would staff have before supporting my relative with medicines?
- 04How would my relative be involved in planning meals, activities, care and everyday decisions?
- 05How would you communicate with my relative and provide information in a format they can understand?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 December 2018 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 School Lane
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 April 2015.
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.