CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 52a River Drive
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, March 2022
The Kent Autistic Trust - 52a River Drive was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 22 February 2022. It was carried out because of COVID-19 and focused on infection prevention and control, as well as any staffing pressures linked to the pandemic.
Inspectors found that visitors were checked, hand sanitiser and masks were available, and plans were in place for people who needed to self-isolate. The home was clean and free from clutter, with enhanced cleaning practices.
Staff had COVID-19 safety training and were regularly tested. Inspectors said the home was meeting the vaccination requirements in force at the time. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas.
Visitor safety checks
Visitors were asked about their test result, had their temperature taken, and were offered hand sanitiser and face masks.
“Visitors were asked about their Lateral Flow Test (LFT) result to ensure they were negative before staff facilitated the visit and temperatures were taken.” from the report
Support during isolation
The home had plans for people who needed to self-isolate, including extra support for anyone who might find isolation difficult.
“Plans were in place for those who may be required to self-isolate. For those people who may struggle with isolation additional support would be provided.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the building clean and uncluttered, with enhanced cleaning practices in place.
“The building was clean and free from clutter and there were enhanced cleaning practices.” from the report
Staff COVID-19 measures
Staff had training about COVID-19 safety and were regularly tested using lateral flow tests.
“Staff had received training on how to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and staff were regularly tested for COVID-19 through the LFT.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently check visitors before they enter the home, and what protective measures are still used?
- 02What support would be provided if a person needed to self-isolate and found this difficult?
- 03How are staff currently tested and trained to prevent and control infections?
- 04What measures are in place now to manage staffing pressures and prevent these affecting people living in the home?
- 05How often is the infection prevention and control policy reviewed and updated?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other quality areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 March 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, June 2018
The Kent Autistic Trust - 52a River Drive was rated Good overall, with Outstanding personalised support and no breaches reported.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection on 26 October 2017. The inspector observed care, spoke with relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care records, medicines, staff files, rotas, audits and policies.
The home supported up to four people with autism and had three residents at the inspection. Inspectors found that people were safe, staff understood their needs, medicines were managed properly and people received support with food, health care and daily choices.
Care was kind and respectful. The home was rated Outstanding for being responsive because support was highly personalised, helped people become more independent and enabled them to take part in activities and community life.
The overall rating remained Good, as did Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. The report says the home had changed since the previous inspection, including building work that created a smaller ground-floor home and a separate flat.
Personalised support
Care plans described people's routines, communication methods, preferences and hopes. Staff used this information consistently and adapted support to each person.
“People were supported by staff in a person centred manner which meant that each person received support that was individual to them.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People were supported to enjoy activities such as football, swimming, cinema trips, holidays and community events. Staff also helped people maintain family relationships.
“People were supported to be active member of their local community, so used the local shops, takeaway restaurants, church groups and were involved with community walks in the local area.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People appeared at ease with staff, who respected their privacy and supported them at their own pace. Staff also encouraged independence in everyday tasks.
“Staff were kind, considerate and respectful. Staff made time to chat with people about their day and helped them enjoy their Halloween party.” from the report
Strong specialist support
The positive behaviour support team, speech and language therapist and occupational therapist worked with staff and residents. This helped provide consistent support and respond to changing needs.
“Staff and people continued to get support from the positive behaviour support team. This enabled staff to work with people in a more effective way and ensured that support was consistent.” from the report
Responsive management
The provider changed the building and support arrangements when one person's needs became difficult to meet alongside other residents' needs. Inspectors found this helped people become more settled.
“The provider had been proactive in finding a solution to meet the person's needs and the needs of other people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you communicate with my relative if they could not speak or use ordinary verbal communication?
- 02How are individual risks, including epilepsy, eating and drinking, community activities and time spent alone, assessed and reviewed?
- 03How would you support my relative to take part in activities, keep family relationships and become more independent?
- 04What specialist support is available from the positive behaviour support, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy teams?
- 05How would you manage any need for more restrictive support, and how often would this be reviewed?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions; the previous overall rating was Good and the home remained Good overall, with Responsive rated Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 June 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of 52a River Drive
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
91 live-in carers within about an hour of Medway
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 £1,250 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Usha rapidly became 'one of the family' and is sorely missed.”
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
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.