CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 16 Curtis Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, staffing, medicines, recruitment and infection control were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive and open leadership, clear staff responsibilities, regular audits and good involvement of people, relatives and staff.
What inspectors found, December 2022
United Response - 16 Curtis Road was rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management.
This was an unannounced inspection. The visit took place on 11 November 2022, with inspection activity continuing until 28 November. One inspector spoke with relatives, advocates, staff and healthcare professionals, observed care and checked records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, regularly reviewed risk assessments and suitable infection control measures. They also found positive leadership, regular audits and good links with health and community services.
The other three areas, Effective, Caring and Responsive, were not inspected at this visit. Their previous ratings were used when calculating the overall rating. The overall Good rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection in 2019.
Safe care
Risk assessments covered health, daily living and social activities. Staff reviewed them as people's needs and interests changed.
“Staff kept people safe by the risk assessments being regularly reviewed and updated as people's needs, interests and pursuits changed.” from the report
Medicines
Medicines were administered, stored and recorded safely. Staff training was refreshed regularly.
“People's medicines records were fully completed and up to date.” from the report
Staffing
The home had enough staff to meet people's needs safely. Recruitment checks included references, work history and DBS checks.
“There were enough staff to provide people with flexible care to meet their needs.” from the report
Positive leadership
Inspectors found an open, inclusive and person-centred culture. Management systems identified areas for improvement and checked progress.
“The home had a culture that was positive, open, inclusive, empowering, person-centred and achieved good outcomes for people.” from the report
Community links
People were supported to use local resources and take part in activities, trips and social opportunities.
“Staff made sure that people had access to local resources such as the organisation's community hub activity centre where they socialised with friends, a visiting music organisation, trips to the shops, lunch out and going to the local parks.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you understand my relative's wishes and concerns if they cannot communicate using words?
- 02How often will my relative's risk assessments be reviewed when their needs, interests or activities change?
- 03How do you check that medicines records remain complete and that staff medicines training is up to date?
- 04How do you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient when people need flexible support?
- 05Which activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative, and how would you act on their feedback?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection prevention and control; the other ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 December 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, November 2019
United Response - 16 Curtis Road was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 18 and 25 October 2019. One inspector spoke with a person living at the home, relatives, care workers, the registered manager and health professionals. They also looked at care plans, staff records, training information, audits and activities.
The home supported up to four people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices. Staff understood people's communication methods, supported health needs, provided activities and helped people develop independence.
The home received Good ratings in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous inspection, published on 28 June 2017, was also rated Good, so the ratings stayed the same.
Safe medicines
Medicines were administered safely, stored appropriately and checked through audits. Records were complete and current.
“Medicine was safely administered, regularly audited and appropriately stored and disposed of.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw warm interactions and found that staff supported people with patience, dignity and respect.
“Staff were very committed and passionate about people and the care they received, which was delivered in an empowering way.” from the report
Communication and choice
Staff used different communication methods, including pictures, objects, symbols and an iPad, to help people express their views.
“Staff demonstrated a variety of effective communication techniques that ranged from communication tools to objects, symbols and pictures.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were supported to follow personal interests, go out, keep relationships and practise life skills around the home.
“People were encouraged to develop their life skills by helping with tasks around their home such as laundry, helping with meal preparation and household chores.” from the report
Positive leadership
Inspectors found an open, inclusive culture, clear responsibilities and regular quality checks.
“The home had an open, inclusive, positive and empowering culture.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative to communicate choices, wishes or distress?
- 02Which activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 03How would you support my relative's particular health needs, including specialist care or appointments?
- 04How are medicines managed, and could my relative be assessed for supported self-medication if appropriate?
- 05How would you involve my relative and our family in care plan reviews and decisions?
This inspection looked at both the care provided and the care home premises, and covered all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 November 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 16 Curtis Road
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 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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What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Richmond upon Thames
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 £1,270 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
“We cannot speak highly enough of the care that Angelique gave, and would recommend her to anyone else needing a live-in carer.”
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.