CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Royal Star & Garter Homes - Solihull
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found a proactive approach to risk, safeguarding and infection control. Staffing, recruitment and medicines management were safe, and lessons from incidents were used to reduce future risks.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- Staff were highly skilled and received ongoing training and support. People had access to health professionals, specialist advice, suitable food and a dementia-friendly environment.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- People were treated with compassion, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well, supported their independence and involved them in decisions about their care.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly personalised and responded to people's interests, communication needs, relationships, beliefs and end-of-life wishes. There was a wide range of activities and support to reduce isolation.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Leaders created an open, inclusive culture focused on person-centred care and continuous improvement. Governance systems were strong, and people, relatives, staff and professionals were involved in developing the service.
What inspectors found, March 2020
Rated Outstanding in all five areas; inspectors found exceptionally personalised care, strong safety systems and excellent leadership.
This was a planned inspection on 8 and 9 January 2020. The first visit was unannounced. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff, health professionals and volunteers. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training information, complaints and quality checks.
The inspectors found that people received exceptionally personalised care and were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff understood people's needs well. People had choice and control, and relatives felt involved in care planning and important decisions.
The home had strong systems for managing risks, safeguarding people, giving medicines and learning from incidents. Staff were well trained and worked closely with health professionals. The environment was clean, well maintained and designed to support people, including those living with dementia.
The overall rating was Outstanding, as were the ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspectors judged the care and leadership to be consistently better than expected, with an exceptional and distinctive approach.
Risk management
The home identified patterns in accidents and acted to reduce risks. For example, equipment and increased monitoring helped reduce one person's falls.
“The system had resulted in quicker action being taken to identify causes and then take action to prevent reoccurrence.” from the report
Skilled staff
Staff had strong training and regular opportunities to develop and reflect on their practice. Specialist training supported people living with dementia.
“People's needs were consistently met by a highly skilled and dedicated staff team.” from the report
Dignity and choice
People were involved in decisions, had their privacy respected and were supported to remain independent. Staff treated people as individuals.
“People mattered and promoting people's dignity was at the heart of everything staff did.” from the report
Activities and community links
People were supported to maintain relationships and take part in meaningful activities. The home also offered links with schools, organisations and a local day club.
“The service played an important role in their local community that enhanced people's lives.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have you maintained the Outstanding standards identified in the January 2020 inspection?
- 02How do you identify and reduce individual risks such as falls, choking and skin wounds?
- 03How are medicines checked, and how often is staff competence in giving medicines reviewed?
- 04What dementia training do staff receive now, and how is it used in everyday care?
- 05How are residents and relatives involved in care reviews, staff recruitment and decisions about activities?
This was a planned comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, including both the premises and the care provided; the first visit was unannounced. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 March 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 2017
The Royal Star & Garter Homes - Solihull was rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led care, with safe and effective care rated Good.
Inspectors visited on 5 and 10 July 2017. The first visit was unannounced. They spoke with people living in the home, relatives, visitors, staff and health professionals. They also observed care and checked care and staff records.
People told inspectors they felt safe and received kind, respectful care. Staff understood people's needs, medicines were managed safely, and people received suitable food and health support. Care records were detailed and reflected people's preferences.
The strongest findings were about caring, responding to people's individual lives and how the home was led. People were supported to keep relationships, interests and links with their community. The overall Outstanding rating means inspectors judged the home to be performing exceptionally well overall. Safe and Effective were rated Good.
Warm and respectful care
People were treated as individuals and staff supported their dignity, privacy and independence. Inspectors saw staff offering reassurance and meaningful attention.
“People were extremely happy with the care they received.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included detailed information about people's histories, routines and preferences. People and families were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“Care records were personalised and contained detailed information about people's life histories and daily routines.” from the report
Meaningful activities and relationships
People were supported to follow hobbies, enjoy trips and events, keep family and community links, and live in ways that reflected their past interests.
“People were encouraged to maintain interests which were important to them to lead meaningful lives.” from the report
Strong leadership
Staff felt valued and supported, and inspectors found a positive culture with effective checks on care quality and a clear focus on improvement.
“There was a strong emphasis on continually looking for ways to improve the service people received.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How has the electronic medication administration system introduced in May 2017 been working since the inspection?
- 02How will you make sure care plans continue to reflect changes in a person's needs, routines and preferences?
- 03What activities and support would be available for my relative's own interests, relationships and community links?
- 04What further LGBT training and examples have staff received since the inspection?
- 05How are families involved in care planning, reviews, meetings and decisions about activities?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering the overall service and all five key questions; the first inspection day was unannounced. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 September 2017 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 Royal Star & Garter Homes - Solihull
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: OutstandingEffective: OutstandingCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at The Royal Star & Garter Homes - Solihull →
- September 2017Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
Read what inspectors found at The Royal Star & Garter Homes - Solihull →
- December 2014GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
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 24 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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Fees, photos and reviews from families
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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Solihull
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. 9 years' experience on average.
“If you bump into her in the night on her way to the bathroom she will still inquire how you are and if everything is alright.”
“I have never met a person who is so kind and thinks about others before himself to such an extent as Chris Malagala.”
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.