CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Swallows 183 -189 Hanworth Road
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, reviewed risk assessments and suitable infection prevention arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had completed general and specialist training, including training linked to individual health needs. People received support with food, drink, healthcare and lawful decision-making.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit, so this report does not give a current rating for Caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit, so this report does not give a current rating for Responsive.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive and open leadership, clear responsibilities and regular audits. Relatives and healthcare professionals described the home as well-run and supportive.
What inspectors found, January 2023
United Response - The Swallows 183 -189 Hanworth Road is Rated Good; inspectors found safe, effective and well-led care.
This was an unannounced inspection. One inspector visited on 3 January 2023 and spoke with people living in the home, relatives or advocates, staff and healthcare professionals. Records about care, risks, medicines, staffing, training and management were also checked.
The home supports up to six people with learning disabilities. All six places were occupied. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, regularly reviewed risk assessments and suitable infection control arrangements. People were supported to take part in community activities and to make choices about their daily lives.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective and Well-led. Effective had improved from Requires improvement at the previous inspection because the recommended specialist training had been provided.
This was not a full inspection of all five key questions. Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, and the previous ratings for any key questions not inspected were used in calculating the overall rating.
Safe staffing and risk support
There were enough staff to meet people's needs safely. Risk assessments covered health, daily living and social activities and were updated when people's needs or interests changed.
“There were enough staff available to flexibly meet people's care and support needs.” from the report
Medicines handled safely
Medicines were administered, stored and audited safely. Records were complete and staff training was regularly refreshed.
“People received their medicines safely.” from the report
Specialist staff training
The home had added specialist training linked to people's individual needs, including epilepsy and tube feeding. This addressed the recommendation from the previous inspection.
“There was specialist training specific to people's individual needs, with detailed guidance and plans.” from the report
Community involvement
People were supported to use local services and take part in activities such as shops, parks, college and community groups. This helped reduce social isolation.
“Staff ensured that people had access to local resources such as a community hub activity centre where they socialised with friends, college, trips to the shops, lunch out and going to the local parks.” from the report
Strong management checks
The provider and home managers used audits, feedback and reviews to identify areas for improvement. Records showed that incidents, complaints and safeguarding matters were investigated.
“The provider, line manager and staff carried out audits thoroughly.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will staff communicate with and understand my relative if they cannot use words to communicate?
- 02What specialist training will staff have for my relative's specific health needs, and how often is it refreshed?
- 03How will my relative be supported to choose activities, meals and whether to spend time alone or with other people?
- 04How will the home review and update my relative's risk assessments as their needs or interests change?
- 05How will relatives be kept informed and able to give feedback about changes to their relative's care?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected, and ratings for any key questions not inspected carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 January 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, January 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and COVID-19 safety measures were being followed.
The CQC visited the home on 18 January 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection about infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good practice in preventing infection. Visitors were tested, staff and visitors were given personal protective equipment, and staff followed infection control guidance. The home also had clean areas for putting on and removing protective equipment.
The home supported residents to keep in touch with relatives by phone, email and video calls. It carried out monthly wellbeing assessments and had plans for residents who were more vulnerable to COVID-19.
The home was inspected but not rated. This visit did not assess the full range of care quality questions, so it does not provide an overall Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Infection prevention
The home followed measures intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 among residents, staff and visitors.
“The provider was following best practice guidance to prevent visitors to the home spreading COVID-19 infection.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff and visitors were given protective equipment, and inspectors saw staff using it in line with guidance.
“Our observations during the inspection confirmed staff were adhering to PPE and Infection Control guidance.” from the report
Testing and visiting
Visitors were asked to take lateral flow tests, and visiting professionals were asked to show proof of a recent negative test.
“All visitors were asked to complete COVID-19 lateral flow test.” from the report
Contact with relatives
Residents were supported to keep in touch with family and friends through phone calls, emails and video calls, as well as garden visits during the summer.
“The provider enabled residents to keep in touch with family members and people's friends through regular phone calls, emails and video conferencing.” from the report
Wellbeing support
The home carried out monthly wellbeing assessments and offered extra support if someone's mental state declined.
“To ensure people's well-being the provider performed monthly wellbeing assessments using a tool and people's mental state was monitored.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently testing visitors and visiting professionals before they enter the home?
- 02How do you make sure staff continue to use personal protective equipment safely?
- 03How do you identify residents who are more vulnerable to COVID-19, and what support is in their plans?
- 04How are monthly wellbeing assessments used if a resident's mental state declines?
- 05How will you help my relative keep in touch with family and friends?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures during the coronavirus pandemic; the home was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 January 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 Swallows 183 -189 Hanworth Road
2 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Swallows 183 -189 Hanworth Road →
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at The Swallows 183 -189 Hanworth Road →
- April 2019GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- May 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 May 2018.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Richmond upon Thames
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Most charge £980 to £1,270 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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“We cannot speak highly enough of the care that Angelique gave, and would recommend her to anyone else needing a live-in carer.”
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