CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Townend Close
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, cleaning, social distancing, visiting arrangements and outbreak planning.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Townend Close was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and COVID-19 safety measures.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 29 January 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found systems to keep the home clean and reduce infection risks. Staff used personal protective equipment, cleaned their hands regularly and took part in routine COVID-19 testing. The layout supported social distancing.
The home had a visiting room with a full-height plastic screen, handwashing facilities and protective equipment for visitors. Visitors completed COVID-19 screening questionnaires. The home was inspected for safety in this area but was not given a rating.
Infection control
Inspectors found systems to keep the home clean and reduce the risk of infections spreading. The infection prevention and control policy was up to date.
“Systems were in place to make sure the service was clean and to minimise the risk of infection transmission.” from the report
Personal protective equipment
Staff wore suitable protective equipment and sanitised their hands regularly. Inspectors were assured that PPE was being used safely.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Safer visits
The home had a separate visiting room with a plastic partition, handwashing facilities and PPE for visitors. Visitors also completed a COVID-19 screening questionnaire.
“The service had a visiting room with a floor to ceiling plastic partition with hand washing facilities and PPE for visitors to wear.” from the report
Social distancing and testing
Furniture was arranged to support social distancing, and people living in the home and staff took part in routine COVID-19 testing.
“People using the service and staff took part in routine testing for COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are the infection prevention and control arrangements described in this report still in place?
- 02How are visitors currently screened, and what protective equipment or handwashing facilities are provided?
- 03How often are people living in the home and staff tested for infections?
- 04How does the home manage a suspected or confirmed infection outbreak?
- 05What are the home's current ratings for effective, caring, responsive and well-led care, since these areas were not assessed in this inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not rate the other four key questions or give an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 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, October 2019
Townend Close was rated Good overall; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some medicine-recording errors corrected during the visit.
This was an unannounced inspection on 12 and 17 September 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting healthcare professional. They reviewed care records, medicine records, staff recruitment and supervision files, and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People and relatives described staff as kind, respectful and helpful. Inspectors found that care was personalised, staff were trained, risks were managed and people were supported to make choices.
There were errors in recording medicines on the second day. The registered manager and deputy manager acted immediately to address them. The Safe rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection to Good. The other four ratings remained Good.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives said staff were caring and helpful. Inspectors observed warm relationships between staff and people.
“Staff communicated with people with compassion and warmth.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records were kept up to date and staff knew how people preferred to be supported. People and relatives were involved in planning and reviewing care.
“People's care records contained up to date information on how best to meet their needs and preferences.” from the report
Skilled and supported staff
Staff received induction, training, supervision and appraisal. Competency checks were used to see whether learning had been put into practice.
“A robust staff induction and training programme was in place.” from the report
Good leadership
People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the management. The home used monitoring and reflective practice to improve care.
“The service was organised and well-run; people were treated with respect and in a professional manner.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in decisions about their care and daily lives. Staff supported people to do what they could for themselves.
“People could make individual choices and decisions about their daily lives.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingInspectors found errors in medicine recording on the second day of the inspection. Managers took immediate action, but families should ask what checks are now in place to prevent similar errors.
“Errors with recording of medicines were found on the second day of the inspection.” from the report
- 01What medicine-recording errors were found during the inspection, and what has been done to prevent them happening again?
- 02How are my relative's care needs and preferences recorded and reviewed?
- 03How will you support my relative to make choices and remain independent?
- 04What activities and support are available for people living with dementia?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in planning end of life care if it becomes needed?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that assessed the home and care provided across all five CQC questions; the Safe rating improved from Requires Improvement while the other ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 October 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 Townend Close
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 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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28 live-in carers within about an hour of North Yorkshire
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 £1,010 to £1,290 a week. 27 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“She was always 'just present enough': attentive, available, kind and engaging, but without ever over-stepping any boundary”
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.