CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Laurels Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control procedures were being followed. They found arrangements for PPE, testing, social distancing, safe admissions, cleaning and managing outbreaks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements during the COVID-19 outbreak response.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 27 October 2020. Inspectors looked only at infection prevention and control practices, including PPE, visiting, admissions, testing, cleaning and outbreak arrangements.
Inspectors were assured that the home was following safe infection prevention and control procedures. Staff had the PPE they needed and were using it in line with national guidance. New residents were supported to self-isolate, with activities provided for them.
Family visits were taking place through windows. Indoor visits were not possible at the time, although the manager was exploring whether they could be arranged during the winter. Families were kept informed about outbreaks and changes to visiting arrangements.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a rated judgement for the wider areas of care.
PPE and infection control
Staff had the protective equipment they needed and inspectors saw it being used in line with national guidance.
“Staff were provided with the personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed.” from the report
Safe admissions
People who had recently moved into the home were supported to self-isolate. Activities were provided to help them stay occupied in their rooms.
“People who had been newly admitted to the home were supported to self isolate.” from the report
Family communication
Families could use window visits, and the provider sent regular updates and newsletters about outbreaks and visiting changes.
“The provider ensured friends and family were kept informed of infection outbreaks and changes to visiting arrangements through regular updates and newsletters.” from the report
Infection control leadership
Two designated infection control leads supported the manager and staff. Cleaning schedules and routines had been increased.
“The Laurels had two designated infection control leads.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the current arrangements for indoor visits and window visits?
- 02How are families told about infection outbreaks and changes to visiting arrangements?
- 03How do you support new residents to self-isolate, and what activities are available during that time?
- 04How often are cleaning schedules and routines reviewed?
- 05How are staff kept up to date with the latest infection prevention and control guidance?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only, and the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 November 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, September 2019
The Laurels Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found improvements since the last inspection, but some people reported long call-bell waits and too few activities.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 August 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were treated with kindness and respect, received suitable care and support, and had their health, food and drink needs met.
There had been improvements since the previous inspection, when the home was rated Requires Improvement and was in breach of a staffing regulation. Staffing had increased and the home was no longer in breach. However, some people still reported long call-bell waits in the morning and not enough activities.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw people being treated with dignity, kindness and compassion.
“During our observations we saw people were always treated with respect, kindness and compassion by staff.” from the report
Good healthcare support
Staff worked with health and social care professionals when needed. Care plans gave staff clear information about people's needs.
“The registered manager worked with other health and social care professionals to help ensure people's healthcare needs were met.” from the report
People's views used
The home used meetings, surveys, complaints and suggestions to identify changes. It also shared actions through a monthly 'You Said, We Did' letter.
“A 'You Said, We Did' letter was compiled each month based on people's feedback from surveys, meetings or general suggestions.” from the report
Morning staffing and call bells
needs fixingSome people and relatives said there were not enough staff in the mornings. Some call-bell response times were very long, although the home was monitoring this.
“Some people told us they felt there were sometimes not enough staff during the morning, and call bell response times were sometimes very long.” from the report
Activities
minorActivities had increased since the previous inspection and were available most days. However, some people still felt there was not enough to do.
“Some people felt there still wasn't enough going on to keep them entertained.” from the report
- 01How quickly are call bells answered, particularly during the morning?
- 02How many care staff and activity staff are on duty at different times of day?
- 03How do you decide which activities to provide, and how do you respond when people say there is not enough to do?
- 04How are staffing levels reviewed when people's needs change?
- 05How do you use feedback from residents and relatives to make further improvements?
This was an unannounced, planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, with observations, discussions and reviews of care, medicine, staffing and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 September 2019 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 Laurels Care Home
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2015Goodstayed GoodEffective: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
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 Cheshire East
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. 88 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“She is an exemplary carer, she is knowledgable empathetic and very respectful in the home.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.