CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Southlands
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and harm, and individual risk assessments supported positive risk taking. Inspectors also found safe medicines arrangements, enough staff and suitable recruitment checks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training and support relevant to their roles and understood the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People received support with food, drink, healthcare and their individual needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw friendly and respectful relationships between people and staff. People were involved in their care, supported to maintain independence and helped to keep in touch with family and friends.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support plans were personalised, up to date and regularly reviewed. People were supported with their preferences, goals, community activities and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an open and inclusive culture, with regular staff meetings and audits. Inspectors found that the registered manager understood their responsibilities and that the home worked with other agencies.
What inspectors found, February 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
Inspectors visited on 20 and 29 December 2017. They spoke with all six people living at the home, staff, relatives and health professionals. They also reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicine records, staff files and quality checks.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found personalised support, kind staff and good arrangements for safety, medicines, staffing, training, nutrition and healthcare. People were supported to make choices, build independence and take part in activities.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It was rated Good at the previous inspection too. A previous recommendation about staff understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards had been addressed.
Personalised support
Care was centred on each person’s preferences, needs and goals. People were involved in deciding how they wanted to be supported.
“People received a personalised service which put them at the centre of their care and support.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as kind and friendly. Inspectors observed warm interactions and found that privacy and dignity were respected.
“People were treated with kindness by staff who respected their privacy and dignity.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were encouraged to make their own decisions and do more for themselves. Support included everyday activities and using the community.
“People took charge of the way they wanted to be supported by staff.” from the report
Good management
Inspectors found an open culture, regular checks and clear communication. Audits were used to identify and complete actions.
“There was an open and inclusive culture in the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you assess and review risks while still supporting people to make their own choices?
- 02How do you support someone whose behaviour may challenge themselves or others, and how are these strategies reviewed?
- 03How do you help each person work towards their goals, build independence and take part in community activities?
- 04How do you make sure mental capacity and best-interest decisions are reviewed when a person cannot decide for themselves?
- 05How do your medicines audits and other quality checks lead to improvements in care?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions, with records reviewed including two people's support plans and three staff files. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 February 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 Southlands
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 December 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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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.