CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 129 Neale Avenue
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection control measures were in place.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 23 February 2021. It was carried out after concerns about infection prevention and control.
Inspectors found good practice in areas such as personal protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing, testing and helping people keep in touch with family and friends.
The home was marked as inspected but not rated overall, and safe was also marked inspected but not rated. The inspection only looked at infection prevention and control measures, not the full range of care.
Contact with family
People were supported to keep in touch with family and friends by telephone and video calls.
“People were supported to maintain contact with family members and friends using telephones and video calling.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff were seen wearing the correct protective equipment, and it was available throughout the home.
“Staff were observed to wear the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in line with government guidance.” from the report
Cleaning and hygiene
The home had increased cleaning, including regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as door handles and light switches.
“Cleaning schedules had been increased to ensure high touch surfaces such as door handles and light switches were cleaned regularly.” from the report
Testing
People living in the home and staff were regularly tested for COVID-19.
“People and staff were regularly tested for COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are high-touch surfaces such as door handles and light switches cleaned now?
- 02How often are people living in the home and staff tested for COVID-19?
- 03How do you make sure staff use personal protective equipment correctly and that supplies are always available?
- 04How are visitors currently prevented from catching or spreading infections?
- 05How do people safely take part in activities and keep in touch with family and friends?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures; the service was inspected but not rated overall, and the other care questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 March 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, December 2018
SENSE - 129 Neale Avenue was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with end-of-life planning still being developed.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection. The inspector visited the home, observed people’s experiences, spoke with staff and relatives, and reviewed care records, recruitment files, training, audits and complaints.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitable staff, safe medicines management, clean surroundings and suitable risk assessments. People had detailed care plans and were supported to make choices using communication aids.
The home had friendly relationships and supported people to take part in activities, maintain family links and use local services. The rating remained Good, as it had been at the previous inspection in May 2016. Inspectors found no serious risks or concerns.
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff, and recruitment checks helped protect people from unsuitable workers. Medicines were administered safely and checked regularly.
“People are consistently protected from the risk of harm and receive their prescribed medicines safely.” from the report
Personalised communication
People were supported to make choices through pictures, photographs, symbols and other communication aids. Care plans recorded individual preferences and needs.
“People are supported to use communication aids and information is provided to people in an accessible format to enable them to make decisions about their care and support.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to keep family relationships and cultural connections.
“People had developed positive relationships with staff and were treated with kindness and respect.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were encouraged to take part in activities at home and in the community, including trips, social events and hobbies. Staff supported people to live as independently as possible.
“People were supported and encouraged to follow their interests both at home and out in the local community.” from the report
End-of-life planning
minorStaff were receiving end-of-life care training, and the manager was still developing plans with people and their families about future wishes and preferences.
“The registered manager was reviewing the information they had around end of life and looking at ways to develop meaningful plans with people and their families.” from the report
- 01How are each person’s end-of-life wishes and preferences recorded now?
- 02How do you make sure communication aids remain suitable and are used consistently by all staff?
- 03How do you check that there are enough staff when people want to go out or take part in activities?
- 04How are relatives involved in care plan reviews and decisions about changes in care?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, with a site visit, observations, staff discussions, relative feedback and records checks. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 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 129 Neale Avenue
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 November 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.
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89 live-in carers within about an hour of North Northamptonshire
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. 76 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
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.