CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Solway House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was following safe infection prevention and control procedures. This included PPE, testing, visitor arrangements, admissions, cleaning and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection control arrangements were protecting people during the pandemic.
This was a targeted inspection on 26 October 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good supplies of personal protective equipment, trained staff, effective cleaning and up-to-date infection control arrangements. They were assured that visitors, admissions, testing, shielding and social distancing were being managed safely.
People said they felt safe and supported. The home allowed only essential visitors, while families could keep in touch by telephone or the home's iPad. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Inspectors found that the home had arrangements covering visitors, admissions, testing, social distancing and outbreak management.
“We were assured the service were following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.” from the report
PPE and staff training
The home had good supplies of PPE and staff had been trained to use it.
“The service had good supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) and staff were suitably trained to use this.” from the report
Clean environment
Staff kept the home clean and used anti-viral cleaning materials.
“Staff ensured the house was clean and that anti-viral cleaning materials were in use.” from the report
Family contact
Only essential visitors were allowed, but people could stay in touch with relatives by telephone or the home's iPad.
“People told us that they had contact with families by telephone or by using the home's I-pad.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current rules for essential visitors and family visits?
- 02How are staff trained to use PPE, and how do you check that it is used safely?
- 03How are people and staff tested for infections now?
- 04How do you manage new admissions safely?
- 05What is your current plan for preventing or managing an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection control and prevention measures only; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 November 2020 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, October 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 September 2019. Inspectors spoke with 15 people, four relatives and eight staff. They also looked at care records, medicines records, staff recruitment and training files, and management records.
The inspectors found enough staff during the day and night, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training and good access to health professionals. The home was clean and comfortable. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect, and their care plans reflected their needs and choices.
People had access to activities, visitors and local events. The home asked people and relatives for their views and used this to plan improvements. The overall rating was Good, and each of the five areas was also rated Good. This was unchanged from the previous inspection in March 2017.
Staffing and safety
The home had enough staff during the day and night. Recruitment checks and risk assessments were in place.
“The service employed enough staff by day and night to meet people's needs.” from the report
Food and health support
People received varied food and special diets were catered for. Staff worked with GPs, nurses and other health professionals.
“Good nutritional plans were in place and the cook and the care staff had detailed knowledge of needs and preferences.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw kind and patient support. Staff protected people's dignity, privacy and independence.
“We observed kind and patient support being provided. Staff supported people in a respectful way.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans covered people's personal, health, social and psychological needs. Staff knew the plans and updated them when necessary.
“All of the care plans were very detailed and care planning had developed since the last inspection.” from the report
Activities and community links
People took part in activities and local events. Visitors, entertainers and members of the public came into the home.
“The home was very much a part of the local community and people were involved in local activities.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home collected views from people, families and staff. Its quality checks were used to support future planning.
“The service had a quality monitoring system and people were asked their views in a number of different ways.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you meet my relative's needs if they required nursing care, given that the home does not provide nursing care?
- 02How would you adjust staffing if my relative's needs changed?
- 03How would you support my relative's particular diet, swallowing needs or food preferences?
- 04How would you involve me and my relative in creating and reviewing the care plan?
- 05What activities and support would be available to help my relative maintain relationships and interests?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care and the premises; the home does not provide nursing care. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 October 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 Solway House
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 January 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Cumberland
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.
8 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
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.