CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Laurels
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough suitable staff, good safeguarding systems, appropriate risk assessments and safe medicines procedures. Infection prevention and control arrangements were also effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and care plans were personalised and reviewed. Staff were trained, people received suitable food and drink, and the home worked with health and social care professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit, so the report does not give a current rating for caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit, so the report does not give a current rating for responsive care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was involved in the day-to-day running of the home and used audits, feedback and staff discussions to monitor and improve the service.
What inspectors found, September 2023
The Laurels is rated Good; inspectors found safe, effective and well-managed care, with caring and responsive care not assessed at this visit.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 12 and 13 September 2023. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives, the manager and care workers. They also checked care records, staff files, training records, incidents, environmental checks and quality monitoring.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, effective and well-led were each rated Good. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, suitable risk assessments and good infection control. The home was clean, maintained and homely.
People's care was personalised and staff worked with health and social care professionals. Inspectors also found that the manager monitored the service, listened to feedback and acted on issues. The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection published in November 2018.
Enough skilled staff
Inspectors found enough experienced staff who knew people well. People did not have to wait for care, and staff were seen to be attentive.
“The service had enough suitably qualified, competent, skilled and experienced staff.” from the report
Safe medicines and infection control
Staff were trained and checked as competent to give medicines. Inspectors also found effective infection prevention arrangements and access to protective equipment.
“The service used effective infection, prevention and control measures to keep people safe, and care workers supported people to follow them.” from the report
Personalised support
People's needs were assessed before they moved in, and their care plans covered their physical and mental health needs. Plans were reviewed with people, relatives and staff.
“People had care and support plans that were personalised, holistic, strengths-based and reflected their needs, including physical and mental health needs.” from the report
Active management
The manager was involved in daily life at the home and had systems to check medicines, health and safety, the environment and infection control. Feedback was used to develop the service.
“The manager had systems to monitor and assess the service provided to people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and respond to my relative's specific risks, such as falls, choking, poor eating or moving and handling?
- 02How do you check that staff remain competent to administer my relative's medicines?
- 03What training and supervision will the staff caring for my relative receive?
- 04How will my relative's care plan be reviewed with us, and how will you record the outcomes they want?
- 05How will you support visits and family involvement in day-to-day care?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected at this visit, and ratings for questions not inspected were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 September 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.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and safe visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 17 January 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home used personal protective equipment safely, arranged testing, followed social distancing and shielding guidance, and had an up-to-date infection control policy. Staff received training in infection control, hand washing and personal protective equipment.
Visits were supported with safety measures, including negative lateral flow tests, hand sanitiser and face masks. People who could not receive regular visitors were supported to keep in touch by telephone, video calls and letters.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not provide a full assessment of the five areas of care quality.
Safe visiting
The home encouraged visits while using testing, hand sanitiser and face masks. People were also helped to keep in touch by phone, video calls and letters.
“Visiting was supported and encouraged by the home. The provider knew how important visits were to people's well-being and emotional needs.” from the report
Infection control training
Staff had training in COVID-19, infection control, hand washing and personal protective equipment. The home checked staff practice and provided more training when needed.
“All staff had received training about COVID-19, infection prevention control (IPC), hand washing and in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).” from the report
Protective equipment
The home kept suitable supplies of masks, disposable gloves and aprons to reduce the risk of infection spreading.
“The provider had ensured that they always had a suitable supply of PPE including face masks, disposable gloves and aprons.” from the report
Testing and outbreak management
People and staff had access to regular COVID-19 testing. The home followed isolation guidance and kept up to date with relevant pandemic guidance.
“People using the service and staff had access to regular testing for COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What measures are currently in place to manage staffing pressures linked to COVID-19?
- 02How do you check that staff are following infection control and personal protective equipment procedures?
- 03What are the current rules for visitors, including testing, masks and other safety measures?
- 04How do you help people keep in touch with relatives who cannot visit regularly?
- 05How do you manage testing and isolation if a person or staff member tests positive?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full assessment of all five quality areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 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.
Every inspection of The Laurels
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 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 Harrow
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 £1,330 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
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.