CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Strafford House
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 arrangements and a clean, well-maintained home.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 31 January 2022. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
They found good practice. Visitors were screened, staff used protective equipment, people and staff took part in testing, and action was taken quickly when someone tested positive.
The home was visibly clean and well maintained. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were managed in line with the relevant guidance.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give an overall quality rating or a rated result for the five questions.
Visitor screening
Visitors and professional visitors had checks before entering, including testing, vaccination evidence and symptom screening.
“Professional visitors were required to show a negative lateral flow test and evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status.” from the report
Protective equipment and hygiene
Staff used protective equipment, washed their hands and used hand sanitiser. They had completed relevant infection control training.
“Staff wore appropriate PPE, regularly washed their hands and applied hand sanitiser.” from the report
Testing and outbreak response
People and staff took part in testing, and the report says action was taken quickly when someone tested positive.
“Staff and people using the service took part in the home's testing programme. Actions were swiftly taken when anyone tested positive with COVID-19.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was visibly clean and well maintained. Cleaning schedules included frequently touched areas.
“The home was visibly clean and well maintained.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently screened before entering the home?
- 02How do you currently manage COVID-19 or other infection outbreaks?
- 03How often are high-touch areas such as door handles and handrails cleaned?
- 04What measures are in place now to manage staffing pressures linked to illness or infection?
- 05How are visits being facilitated under the current guidance?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other four questions or give an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 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, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a medicine storage temperature issue addressed during the inspection.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 5 July 2018. One inspector visited when five people were living at the home. The inspector spoke with people, a relative, health professionals, managers and support workers, and checked care records, medicines and quality checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and staff understood their needs. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, good risk management, safe medicines processes, clean premises and good infection control.
Inspectors found that people were involved in their care plans and choices. Staff respected privacy and dignity, supported independence and helped people take part in activities and community life. The home had systems for listening to feedback, handling complaints and checking quality.
The home remained Good, matching its rating at the previous comprehensive inspection in September 2015. Inspectors noted one medicine storage issue: the room temperature had been too high on the inspection day, but the manager acted immediately and arranged temperature monitoring.
People felt safe
Everyone inspectors spoke with said they felt safe. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse, and risk assessments were regularly reviewed.
“People who used the service continued to feel safe with the support they were receiving.” from the report
Personalised care
People were involved in care planning and could make choices about their support. Staff understood individual preferences, communication needs and aspirations.
“The care plans we looked at detailed what was important to that person including their preferences, choices and goals.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors observed staff showing kindness and treating people with dignity and patience. Staff also supported people to keep in touch with relatives and friends.
“We saw that staff respected people's dignity and privacy and treated people with respect and patience.” from the report
Activities and community access
People took part in activities suited to their interests, including trips out, shopping and meals out. Staff supported people to access the community.
“We found all people who used the service were supported to pursue activities that they enjoyed, that were meaningful to them and promoted their wellbeing.” from the report
Quality monitoring
Managers used regular audits, meetings and feedback to understand how the home was operating and to track improvements.
“The quality assurance system continued to ensure that the management team had a good overview of how the service was operating and that the service was of good quality.” from the report
Medicine storage temperature
minorThe medicines room was warmer than the recommended temperature on the inspection day. The manager acted immediately by buying an air conditioning unit and said temperatures would be checked frequently.
“However, on the day of our inspection the room temperature had been higher than the recommended temperature.” from the report
- 01How are medicine storage temperatures monitored now, and what happens if they go above the recommended level?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular communication needs and help them make choices?
- 03What activities and community opportunities could my relative take part in?
- 04How are changes in my relative's risks, health needs or behaviour recorded and shared with staff?
- 05How would my relative and our family be involved in reviewing the care plan and raising concerns?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, with care, premises, medicines, records, staffing and quality systems examined. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 August 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 Strafford House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 June 2014.
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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97 live-in carers within about an hour of Rotherham
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. 80 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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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.