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 were assured about infection prevention and control. They found effective use of protective equipment, testing, cleaning, social distancing and outbreak arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2021
The Mews: inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection controls and support for family contact.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 3 February 2021. It looked at how the home was prepared to prevent and control COVID-19 infections.
Inspectors found staff using the correct protective equipment and following infection control procedures. The home was clean, had extra cleaning schedules, and carried out regular checks. Testing was in place for residents and staff.
Families were supported to stay in touch through socially distanced visits, video calls and a visiting pod. Staffing was managed effectively, with little use of agency staff.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not provide a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Infection control
Staff followed infection prevention procedures and used the correct protective equipment. They had specific training to support this.
“Staff were observed wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and were supported with specific IPC training.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic. Extra cleaning schedules and regular checks were in place.
“The environment was clean and hygienic; extra IPC cleaning schedules had been implemented and routine audits were completed” from the report
Testing and staffing
Regular testing was arranged for residents and staff. Staffing levels were managed effectively, with minimal use of agency staff.
“A regular testing regime was in place for people living at the home and staff who worked there.” from the report
Family contact
The home supported contact through socially distanced visits, video calls and a visiting pod.
“Socially distanced visits were facilitated, remote video calls were supported, and a newly designed visiting pod had been set up” from the report
COVID-19 leadership
A dedicated staff champion had training, observed staff practice and offered guidance to the team.
“There was also a dedicated 'COVID-19 staff champion' in place” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 3 February 2021?
- 02How are residents and staff tested now, and how are positive results managed?
- 03How do you support visits and contact with relatives now?
- 04What are your current staffing levels, and how much agency staff do you use?
- 05Can you provide information about care quality areas that were not covered by this targeted inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not assess the other four key questions or provide an overall quality rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 February 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
Heathside Mews was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with only a minor point about offering meal choices on the day.
This was an unannounced, planned comprehensive inspection on 11 February 2019. Inspectors spoke with seven people living there, four relatives, seven staff and two visiting healthcare professionals. They also reviewed care files, medicines records, staff records, complaints and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, detailed risk assessments, safe medicines practice, good training and a clean environment.
People and relatives said they were happy with the care. Inspectors saw staff treating people with kindness, dignity and respect. Activities were varied and personalised, and the home had links with local groups and services.
The home was already rated Good at its previous inspection, published in May 2016. Inspectors suggested offering people a choice of food on the day, as some people living with dementia might not remember choices made the evening before.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding and risk management, and records showed incidents were reviewed to reduce the chance of them happening again.
“People were safe and protected from avoidable harm. Legal requirements were met.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and spoke with them kindly. Inspectors saw privacy, dignity and independence being maintained.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities were based on people's interests and wishes. Inspectors saw people appearing happy and engaged in activities such as music, dancing and arts and crafts.
“We saw people smile, laugh, sing, dance and appear happy and engaged.” from the report
Good leadership
The management team had oversight of the home through audits and quality checks. People, relatives, staff and the local authority spoke positively about the management.
“The service was consistently managed and well-led.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you offer people living with dementia a choice of food on the day?
- 02How do you check that staffing levels remain suitable when people's needs change?
- 03How are a new resident's interests and life history used to plan their care and activities?
- 04How are relatives involved in care reviews and the regular resident and relative meetings?
- 05How do you review accidents, incidents and safeguarding referrals to prevent similar events happening again?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the home received a Good rating in each one. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 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
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2014
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.
- February 2012
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 Warrington
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 90 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“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.”
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