CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Downes Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found suitable safeguarding, risk assessment, recruitment, infection control and medicines systems. People said staff responded quickly when they used the call bell.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received suitable food, drink and healthcare support. Staff had induction, training, supervision and appraisal, and the building had been adapted and extended.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, patience, dignity and respect. People were involved in everyday choices and in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were completed, reviewed and available to staff. People had a wide range of activities, trips and opportunities to maintain relationships and community links.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective management, regular meetings and quality checks. People, relatives and staff expressed confidence in how the home was run.
What inspectors found, January 2020
The Downes Residential Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-organised care, with activities provided to a very high standard.
This was an unannounced inspection on 3 and 4 December 2019. The inspector spoke with 13 people, two relatives, six staff members and one outside professional. Records about care, medicines, staffing, training and management were also checked.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable safeguarding and risk systems, safe medicines management, enough staff, clean surroundings and appropriate recruitment checks.
People were treated with kindness and respect. They were involved in decisions about their care and could choose when to get up, go to bed, eat and take part in activities. The home offered regular trips, walks and other activities.
The previous inspection rating was Good, published on 15 June 2017. This inspection found the rating remained Good. The report also says the home had added 11 bedrooms since the previous inspection.
Safe medicines
Medicines were securely stored and well organised. Records were complete, audits were carried out weekly and inspectors found no errors in the system they checked.
“Medicine records were fully completed and were tidy. We did not find any errors how the system operated.” from the report
Activities and outings
Activities were treated as a high priority. People could join in with activities at the home and go on regular trips, walks and holidays if they wished.
“Activities were seen as a high priority and were organised to a very high standard.” from the report
Staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found suitable recruitment checks and satisfactory staffing levels. People received prompt support and said they did not wait too long.
“Staffing levels were satisfactory. We observed people receiving prompt support from care staff when required.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you adapt activities for my relative's interests, mobility, dementia, learning disability or sensory needs?
- 02How do you check that staffing levels remain sufficient at all times, including nights?
- 03How often will my relative and family be involved in reviewing the care plan when needs change?
- 04How will you support my relative with medicines, food and drink, including any special diet or help with eating?
- 05What arrangements are in place if my relative later needs end of life care at the home?
This was an unannounced, planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 January 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, June 2017
Rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, responsive care, but safety checks around recruitment and some room risks needed improvement.
Inspectors visited without warning on 9 May 2017. They spoke with people living at the home, a relative, staff and a health professional. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines, staffing, training, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, kind care, regular care plan reviews and good support for people's choices, health needs and activities.
Safe was rated Requires Improvement. Recruitment records did not show clearly how risks were managed after concerns about a new employee had been raised. Inspectors also found one window without a restrictor and no risk assessments for mobile heaters, although the manager acted immediately on these issues.
Kind and respectful staff
Staff were caring and patient. They respected privacy, knocked before entering bedrooms and supported people in a calm way.
“We observed carers interacting with the residents in their bedrooms, lounges and dining areas, in a polite, respectful, compassionate, attentive, considerate and patient manner.” from the report
Enough staff
Staffing levels and the mix of skills were sufficient. Call bells and requests for help were answered quickly.
“The staffing rota showed there were enough skilled and experienced staff on duty to keep people safe and meet their needs.” from the report
Good care planning
Care plans covered health, social needs and personal wishes. They were reviewed and updated when people's needs changed.
“Care plans were well organised and contained information covering all aspects of people's health and social care needs.” from the report
Safe medicines management
Medicines were stored securely, given as prescribed and checked through regular audits.
“Medicines had been checked on receipt into the home, given as prescribed and stored and disposed of correctly.” from the report
Choices and activities
People chose when to get up, go to bed, eat and spend time. Activities included games, music, quizzes and outings.
“People were able to take part in a range of activities of their choice.” from the report
Recruitment risk records
seriousWhen concerns were raised about a new employee, the home did not record how the risk was being managed. Inspectors recommended better records and a tool to support recruitment decisions.
“There were no records in place to demonstrate how risk was being managed when concerns about a new employee had been raised.” from the report
Environmental safety checks
needs fixingOne window did not have a restrictor. Mobile heaters were also being used without individual risk assessments, although these assessments were put in place during the inspection.
“We discussed the potential risk to people regarding hot surfaces and trailing wires from these mobile heaters.” from the report
Some maintenance and access limits
minorSome paintwork was damaged and one room smelled musty. People using mobility aids could not use some garden paths because of the gravel surface.
“Some areas of the service had damaged paintwork due to use of equipment. One room smelt 'musty'.” from the report
- 01How do you now record and review risks when a job applicant has disclosed information that raises concerns?
- 02Has the missing window restrictor been fitted, and how are window safety checks recorded?
- 03How are mobile heaters assessed and monitored for each person who uses one?
- 04What work has been completed to address the damaged paintwork and musty-smelling room?
- 05How do you support people using mobility aids to enjoy the garden?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, with observations, conversations and checks of care, staffing, recruitment and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 June 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 The Downes Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Downes Residential Care Home →
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Downes Residential Care Home →
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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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Most charge £980 to £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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