CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Stratford's Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, risk assessments, safe medicines processes and suitable infection control arrangements. Staff understood safeguarding procedures and how to report concerns.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. The previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, clear staff roles and systems for monitoring quality. People, staff, relatives and professionals could give feedback.
What inspectors found, October 2023
The Stratford's Residential Home rated Good; inspectors found safe care and positive leadership, but this was a focused inspection.
The unannounced inspection took place on 14 September 2023. One inspector spoke with three people using the service, three staff members and the registered manager. They also checked care plans, risk assessments, employment records and audits.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines arrangements and effective infection control.
People were described as having choice and control, with staff supporting their independence and communicating in ways that met their needs. The home had a positive culture, and systems were in place to monitor quality and address problems.
This was not a full review of all five areas. Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were used to calculate the overall rating.
Enough staff
Inspectors found enough staff to support people safely and promptly. Recruitment checks included identity checks, references and DBS checks.
“There were enough staff to support people safely and in a timely and prompt manner.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained to give medicines safely. Records were accurate and checked by management.
“Medicines administration records (MAR) were used accurately to document any medicines that were administered.” from the report
Positive culture
Staff were described as kind and supportive. The home promoted people's independence and involved people and relatives in care planning.
“Staff spoke with people kindly and told us how they promoted people's independence as much as possible for each individual.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home had systems to monitor its work and act on issues. Staff understood their responsibilities and how to raise concerns.
“Systems and processes were in place to ensure that all aspects of the service were monitored, and actions taken to address any issues.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you support my relative's individual communication needs and choices?
- 02How will you involve me and my relative in care planning and reviews?
- 03How do you check that medicines are given safely and in the preferred way?
- 04How do you make sure there are enough suitably trained staff on every shift?
- 05Which current areas of care have been reviewed since the three key questions were not inspected in this visit?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the Effective, Caring and Responsive ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 October 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
The Stratford's Residential Home: inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 15 February 2022. Inspectors looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures were affecting care.
Inspectors found good arrangements for visitors, including booking, testing, temperature checks, hand washing and protective equipment. Staff and visiting professionals had to show their vaccination status unless exempt or entering in an emergency.
The home had testing, isolation plans, accessible protective equipment and up-to-date COVID-19 guidance. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, but the service was inspected and not rated, so this report does not provide a full quality rating.
Controlled visiting
Visitors were managed through booking, rapid testing, temperature checks, hand washing and protective equipment. Visitors spoken to by inspectors were happy with the arrangements.
“Safe arrangements were in place for visitors to the service including professionals and others.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
Protective equipment was readily available and checked. Regular COVID-19 testing was in place for staff and people living at the home.
“Stocks of PPE (personal protective equipment) were readily accessible to staff and visitors, and regular checks were made to ensure they were being used.” from the report
Infection planning
The home used isolation plans and kept its COVID-19 policies, risk assessments and guidance up to date.
“Policies, procedures, risk assessments and guidance relating to COVID-19 were up to date, which supported staff to keep them and others safe.” from the report
Staff training and cleanliness
Staff had infection prevention and control training, including how to put on and remove protective equipment safely. Management carried out checks and audits to help keep the home clean and tidy.
“Staff were trained in infection prevention and control procedures, including the procedure for safely putting on and taking off PPE (donning and doffing).” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your visiting arrangements changed since the inspection in February 2022?
- 02What infection testing is now offered to staff and people living at the home?
- 03How do you manage isolation if someone may have an infection?
- 04How do you make sure protective equipment is available and used safely?
- 05What measures are in place now if COVID-19 causes staffing pressures?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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 Stratford's Residential Home
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Stratford's Residential Home →
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at The Stratford's Residential Home →
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 March 2016.
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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