CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Tomlen
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection control, testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning, safe admissions, visiting and social distancing. The provider also said it had measures to reduce the effect of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and safe visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 3 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected the service. The visit was announced 67 hours beforehand.
The home had systems for safe visits, including an alternative visiting room at another service run by the provider. It had enough personal protective equipment, staff had infection control training, and staff took part in regular COVID-19 testing.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, cleaning regularly, supporting social distancing, admitting people safely and keeping its infection control policy up to date. The home supported people to understand COVID-19 through videos and demonstrations.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the report gives no overall quality rating and does not provide ratings for most of the five key questions.
Safe family visits
The home had systems to help people see and speak to relatives safely. It had also created an alternative visiting room at another service run by the provider.
“The service had systems in place for safe visiting to allow people to see and speak to their relatives.” from the report
Protective equipment and training
There was enough personal protective equipment, it was stored in designated areas, and staff had infection control training with checks of their skills.
“Staff participated in training sessions around infection control and using PPE and had their competency checked.” from the report
Regular testing
The home took part in the regular COVID-19 testing programme for staff and accessed testing for people using the service.
“The service participated in the Covid-19 regular testing programme for staff.” from the report
Cleaning and infection prevention
Inspectors found that cleaning was carried out regularly, including on frequently touched surfaces. The home had also changed the environment to support infection prevention and social distancing.
“A cleaning regime was followed to ensure effective measures to reduce infection risks, including tasks such as cleaning of any regular touchpoint surfaces.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are family visits arranged now, and is the alternative visiting room still available?
- 02How do you currently manage COVID-19 testing and the use of personal protective equipment?
- 03What measures are in place if COVID-19 causes staffing pressures?
- 04How do you support people to understand infection risks and protective equipment?
- 05How often are frequently touched surfaces cleaned, and how is this checked?
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 key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 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.
What inspectors found, May 2018
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found highly personalised care, strong activities and excellent leadership, with Safe, Effective and Caring rated Good.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 February 2018. One inspector reviewed records, spoke with four people, staff, relatives and health professionals, and checked how the home was run.
Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable training and well-managed risks. People were treated with kindness and respect, involved in their care, and supported to make choices about food, activities and daily life.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Responsive and Well-led were Outstanding, while Safe, Effective and Caring were Good. The previous comprehensive inspection in June 2015 rated the service Good overall.
Building independence
People were encouraged to try new things, learn practical skills and take part in community life. Staff used creative approaches rather than assuming what people could not do.
“The registered manager and staff were creative in enabling people to overcome any perceived limitations and live a rewarding and fulfilling life.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities were based on people's interests and goals. Examples included gardening, using cash machines, visiting churches and building new friendships.
“The service had an excellent range of activities which maximised people's potential and enabled them to learn new life skills.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff supporting people patiently and respectfully. Staff protected privacy and asked for permission before entering bedrooms.
“Staff treated people with understanding, kindness and knew the importance of respect and dignity.” from the report
Strong leadership
The management team supported staff well and used audits, feedback and action plans to improve the service. There were also plans for unexpected absences.
“The service benefitted from exceptional leadership.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are each person's current activities and goals chosen, reviewed and updated?
- 02How do you make sure staffing levels and the staff team remain consistent for my relative?
- 03How are medicines reviewed, and how are my relative's preferences about taking them recorded?
- 04How often are care plans reviewed, and how will my relative and family be involved?
- 05What arrangements are in place if the manager or usual staff are unexpectedly unavailable?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 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 Tomlen
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 December 2010.
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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Gloucestershire
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 £1,030 to £1,360 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.