CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Aidans
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection-control measures but COVID-19 testing and admission processes did not follow guidance.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 2 February 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
The home was closed to admissions and no one was using it at the time. Inspectors found it was clean, staff used protective equipment correctly, and the layout supported distancing. Staff had infection-control training and were allocated to one person during each shift.
There were important gaps. Staff testing did not match government guidance, people were not routinely tested before and after admission, and professional visitors were not asked for a negative lateral flow test. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a formal quality rating.
Clean and prepared environment
The home was clean, with protective equipment used correctly and dedicated areas for staff to put it on and take it off.
“The service was clean. Staff wore PPE correctly and there were signs around the home to remind people of the measures in place to reduce the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Reduced cross-infection risk
The home had a COVID-19 risk assessment, adapted its layout for distancing and allocated staff to one person during each shift.
“Staff were allocated to work only with one person during each shift to reduce the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff had training in infection prevention and protective equipment. The provider also had arrangements to support staff health and wellbeing.
“Staff had completed training in infection prevention and control and the safe use of PPE.” from the report
Staff testing did not follow guidance
needs fixingStaff were doing twice-weekly lateral flow tests, but not within the timescales required by the guidance. Weekly PCR testing was also not being done.
“Staff were also not undertaking weekly PCR tests in line with current government guidance.” from the report
Admission testing was incomplete
needs fixingThe provider required some people to isolate, but did not have a routine system to test people before and after admission as required by guidance.
“However, the provider did not have a system in place to routinely test people prior to and following their admission into the service in line with current government guidance.” from the report
Professional visitor checks
needs fixingThe home checked professional visitors' vaccination status, but did not ask them to show a negative lateral flow test before visiting or entering.
“However, the provider did not ask professional visitors to the service to demonstrate a negative LFT test at least 72 hours prior to their visit or before entering the building.” from the report
- 01What changes were made to staff lateral flow and PCR testing before the home reopened?
- 02How are people now tested before and after admission?
- 03How do you check that professional visitors have a negative lateral flow test before visiting or entering?
- 04How are the infection-control measures and testing arrangements checked to make sure they continue to follow current guidance?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 February 2022 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, November 2017
St Aidans was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and well-organised short-term support, and the rating remained unchanged.
This was an announced inspection on 13 October 2017. One inspector reviewed information held by the CQC, the provider's return and notifications, then spoke with one person, two relatives, three staff members, the registered manager and four health care professionals.
Inspectors reviewed two care records, staff training and recruitment records, and records about how the home was managed. They found people were safe, treated with kindness and supported by staff who understood their needs.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home was rated Good at the previous inspection in August 2015, so the overall rating remained the same.
Safeguarding and medicines
The home had robust safeguarding arrangements and checked staff before they started work. Inspectors also found that medicines were safely stored, given as prescribed and recorded.
“Safeguarding adult's procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard the people they supported from abuse and appropriate recruitment checks took place before staff started work.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were patient, used different ways to help people communicate and encouraged independence. Inspectors saw people being treated with dignity and privacy.
“We observed staff engaged with people in a caring and relaxed way. For example, they spoke to people at the same level and used various methods to encourage people to express themselves.” from the report
Individual care planning
Care records contained detailed information about people's health, support needs and emergency contacts. Relatives, care coordinators, key workers and health care professionals were involved in planning.
“These were well organised and easy to follow. They contained detailed pre-admission information and assessments were undertaken to identify people's support needs before they started to use the home.” from the report
Regular oversight
The registered manager carried out monthly checks and reviewed incidents, staff practice and care records. Staff could discuss concerns and lessons learned in regular meetings.
“The registered manager showed us that monthly audits were being carried out at the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you review my relative's needs and risks before each short-term stay?
- 02What training have staff completed for my relative's specific health, learning disability or behavioural needs?
- 03How will you involve us and relevant health care professionals in planning and reviewing care?
- 04What activities could my relative take part in during their stay, based on their interests and abilities?
- 05Who should we contact if we have a concern, and how will it be investigated?
This was an announced inspection covering all five CQC questions, based on one person using the home at the time, two care records, and feedback from relatives, staff and health care professionals. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 November 2017 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 St Aidans
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackburn with Darwen
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. 91 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
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.