CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Thorndale
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management and clear risk assessments. Staff understood safeguarding and emergency evacuation arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Training was up to date and staff received supervision and appraisals. People were supported with healthcare, healthy food, exercise and decisions made under the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw kind and respectful support, good relationships and a strong focus on people's choices, privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- People had detailed care records, individual goals and access to a wide range of activities. Staff adapted support when people's needs or anxiety changed.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Relatives and staff described the home as well managed and approachable. Audits, staff workshops and feedback systems were used to monitor and improve the service.
What inspectors found, May 2018
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding responsiveness and inspectors finding safe, caring and well-managed support.
The inspection was announced and took place on 29 November, 1 and 7 December 2017. The inspector spoke with managers and support workers, observed care, reviewed records, checked medicines and inspected the building. Views were also gathered from seven relatives and other organisations.
The home supported five people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable risk assessments and up-to-date training. People were supported with healthcare, food, activities and decision-making.
Inspectors found especially strong person-centred support. People had detailed goals, made progress with independence and enjoyed a wide range of activities. The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led, and Outstanding for Responsive.
Individual support
Care was tailored closely to people's health needs, preferences, communication styles and independence goals.
“People received care which was extremely person-centred and responsive to their needs.” from the report
Progress with independence
SMART goals helped people work towards practical skills and make substantial progress in areas that mattered to them.
“As a result of the service having these targets we found people had made excellent progress.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to take part in varied activities, outings and everyday tasks rather than being limited by their complex needs.
“People's quality of life was enhanced through access to an excellent range of activities.” from the report
Safe care
Inspectors found medicines records accurate, medicines securely stored and risks identified with control measures for staff to follow.
“Medicine administration records (MAR) we viewed had been completed accurately.” from the report
Respectful relationships
People appeared relaxed with staff, who supported choices and treated people with respect, warmth and dignity.
“We saw that staff were kind, caring, polite and supportive.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What SMART goals would you set for my relative, and how would you review their progress?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular communication method, such as picture-based communication or object-based icons?
- 03How would you recognise and respond to signs of anxiety or distress, and what positive support plan would staff follow?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative, based on their interests and abilities?
- 05Have the planned kitchen extension, refurbishment and window replacement been completed?
This was an announced inspection of all five key areas, including observations, discussions, records, medicines and the building, but only two care records and three people's medicines records were reviewed. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 May 2018 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 Thorndale
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Sunderland
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 £950 to £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.