CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Synergy Leicester Care and Support Ltd
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors found environmental risks, including unsecured wardrobes, an open kitchen door and an unrestricted kitchen window. They also found some cleaning, food labelling and medicines recording shortfalls, although medicines were administered safely and immediate action was taken on several issues.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed and recorded. Staff were trained and supervised, people were supported with nutrition and healthcare, and consent and best-interest processes were in place.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed treating people with warmth, kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to make choices and maintain their independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and care plans were reviewed. Communication needs, complaints, family relationships and people's interests were considered, although relatives felt more activities would be helpful.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team had oversight of the home through audits, feedback and an improvement plan. Staff felt supported, and the home worked with health and social care professionals.
What inspectors found, February 2023
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but the Safe rating Requires Improvement because some environmental, infection control and medicines records needed attention.
This was an unannounced inspection over three days. One inspector visited, with an inspection manager observing. Inspectors spoke with one person, three relatives and staff, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, training and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good. People were described as receiving personalised care from kind and knowledgeable staff, with support for food, health appointments, communication and relationships.
Safe was rated Requires Improvement. Inspectors found unsecured wardrobes, an open kitchen door, an unrestricted kitchen window, some cleaning and food date-label problems, and inconsistencies in recording when some medicines had been opened. The manager acted immediately on the environmental, cleaning and food concerns, and provided evidence that several issues had been fixed.
This was the first inspection of the newly registered service. The previous provider was rated Good in a report published in June 2019.
Kind, skilled staff
Inspectors found staff were trained, knowledgeable and caring. People experienced warm and positive interactions.
“We saw a warm and caring approach by staff with positive and kind interactions between staff and people.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's needs, preferences and communication requirements. Staff knew people well and provided care in line with their wishes.
“People received personalised care and support in accordance with their individual needs.” from the report
Positive management
The management team used audits, feedback and an improvement plan to oversee and develop the service. Staff said they felt supported and listened to.
“The management team had good oversight of the service and demonstrated passion and commitment to the continued development of the service.” from the report
Environmental safety
seriousSome wardrobes had not been secured to the wall after refurbishment. The kitchen door was propped open and the kitchen window did not have a suitable restrictor, creating avoidable risks.
“We found the door to the kitchen propped open, allowing anyone to enter putting people at risk of consuming products that could harm them.” from the report
Unsecured wardrobes
seriousWardrobes had brackets fitted but had not been re-secured to prevent them falling. The manager arranged for this to be corrected after inspectors raised it.
“We identified some wardrobes had brackets attached to them but due to recent refurbishment had not been re-secured to the wall to prevent them from falling.” from the report
Cleaning and food labelling
needs fixingA commode had not been fully cleaned, a mattress cover was stained and open dates were not always written on perishable food. The managers took quick action on these concerns.
“Whilst the majority of the home was visually clean and hygienic, we found a commode had not been cleaned fully and also identified a mattress protective cover was stained.” from the report
Medicines records
minorSome bottles and creams did not consistently have their opening dates recorded. Checks showed they had not passed their expiry dates, and people received medicines safely.
“However, there were some inconsistencies with recording open dates on bottles and creams, but checks confirmed these items had not passed their expiry date.” from the report
More activities
minorThe home provided activities such as music, singing and exercises, but relatives said the range or amount could be improved. The manager planned to develop activities with people and relatives.
“However, we did receive feedback from relatives that the amount of activities offered could be improved.” from the report
- 01What checks are now used to make sure wardrobes and other fixtures remain safely secured after refurbishment?
- 02How do you make sure the kitchen is kept secure and the window restrictor remains in place?
- 03How are cleaning standards and the dates on perishable food checked and recorded?
- 04How do you check that opening dates are recorded consistently on medicines bottles and creams?
- 05What new or additional activities have been introduced since the inspection?
This was an unannounced first inspection of the newly registered care home and covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control under Safe. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 February 2023 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 Synergy Leicester Care and Support Ltd
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Synergy Leicester Care and Support Ltd →
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2022
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 April 2022.
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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