CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Mews
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments and safe medicine systems. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before moving in, with relatives involved. Staff received training and support, and people were helped with healthy eating, health appointments and decisions made in their best interests.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Inspectors saw people being involved in their care and supported with dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and reviewed when people's needs changed. People were supported with communication, activities, work opportunities, relationships and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- People, relatives and staff said the home was well managed and approachable. Quality checks were used to identify actions and follow up improvements.
What inspectors found, October 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care that supported people's choices and independence.
This was an unannounced inspection on 01 September 2021. One inspector and one medicines inspector spoke with people, staff, relatives and managers. They reviewed care plans, medicine records, recruitment files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicine management and care plans that reflected people's needs and preferences.
People were supported to make choices, stay healthy, keep relationships, follow interests and access work or other activities. Staff were described as kind and caring, and the home had systems to check the quality of care.
The rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, which was published on 15 March 2019. The inspection was part of a random check of services already rated Good or Outstanding.
Personalised risk support
Care plans and risk assessments gave staff detailed guidance about individual needs, safety and independence.
“Care plans and risk assessments were in place and were person centred. They contained detailed guidance for staff to follow to provide individualised support, to keep people safe and to promote independence.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives said staff were kind, caring and familiar with their needs. Inspectors saw people being supported in a dignified way.
“People told us they received support from staff that were kind and caring.” from the report
Choice and activities
People were helped to develop daily living skills, try interests, keep pets, access work and stay connected with relatives.
“People were supported to enjoy activities and access work opportunities.” from the report
Good management checks
The manager and area manager monitored the service, acted on issues and asked people, relatives and staff for their views.
“There were quality assurance systems in place to monitor the service and drive improvements.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you update my relative's care plan and risk assessments if their needs or behaviour changed?
- 02What training and competency checks do staff have for medicines, including as-required medicines?
- 03How would you support my relative to communicate choices, appointments and concerns in their preferred format?
- 04What activities, work opportunities and daily living skills could my relative take part in?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in care planning and decisions?
This unannounced inspection reviewed all five key questions and included records, observations and discussions with people, staff, relatives and managers. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 October 2021 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 2019
The Mews rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with improvements made since the previous inspection.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 6 March 2019. They spoke with three people living in the home, two care staff and the registered manager. They reviewed care plans, risk assessments, medicines records, staff training, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe, staff were available when needed, medicines were managed safely and people were supported with healthcare, activities and contact with others.
The provider had acted on breaches found at the previous inspection in November 2017. Staffing levels had been increased, and the report found that care and management systems had improved. No one was receiving end of life care at the time, and the home was not offering this service.
Staffing improved
Staffing levels had increased since the previous inspection. Inspectors saw that staff were nearby and available to support people when needed.
“The registered manager told us that staffing levels had been increased since the last inspection and the staff we spoke with and the rotas we looked at confirmed this.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were patient and attentive. They understood how people communicated their needs and respected privacy and dignity.
“We observed that when staff entered the room they took the time to talk with people and were patient when listening to them.” from the report
Choice and community life
People were supported to take part in activities, work, shopping and holidays. They were also supported to maintain important relationships.
“Two people told us that staff supported them to go on holiday to Wales last year.” from the report
Effective oversight
The provider had monitoring systems for staffing, training, medicines and the quality of care. Inspectors found that action had been taken after the previous inspection.
“We saw that the provider had systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the service provided to people.” from the report
Some liberty authorisations were still pending
minorFive people had authorised Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, while applications for a further three people were awaiting authorisation. Ask the home to explain the current position for anyone affected.
“The registered manager told us that five people had an authorised DoLS in place and they were awaiting the authorisation of a further three.” from the report
- 01What are the current staffing levels on each shift, and how do you adjust them when people's needs change?
- 02What is the current position on the three outstanding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations?
- 03How are people involved in reviewing their care plans and making decisions about daily activities?
- 04What support is available if a resident later needs end of life care, given that this was not being offered at the inspection?
- 05How can a resident or their family raise a concern, including if the person communicates distress through behaviour or body language?
This was an unannounced scheduled inspection covering the care and premises of the home and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 March 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 Mews
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 December 2014.
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 Staffordshire
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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.