CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Victoria Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection prevention and control arrangements during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Inspectors carried out an announced, targeted visit on 11 August 2020. They looked at infection prevention and control as part of a national review of care homes during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found strict procedures for entering the home, including hand cleaning, shoe cleaning, temperature checks and protective equipment. Staff changed into clean uniforms, and frequently touched surfaces were cleaned throughout the day.
People and staff had regular Covid-19 testing. The home had an area for isolating people with Covid-19, and staff who tested positive followed isolation guidance. Families could visit through a clear screen without entering the home.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the visit gave an assessment of infection control arrangements, rather than a full rating of the home or a rated judgement for safety.
Entry controls
The home used hand sanitiser, a shoe-cleaning mat, protective equipment and temperature checks to reduce the risk of infection entering.
“This combined with hand sanitiser and a shoe sanitising mat helped ensure that the risk of infection coming into the home was minimised.” from the report
Staff changing arrangements
Staff changed from travel clothes into clean uniforms before starting work. Their travel clothes were kept separately and laundered.
“This practice supported infection control in minimising the risk of cross infection.” from the report
Testing and isolation
People and staff had regular Covid-19 tests. The home had a separate area for people diagnosed with Covid-19, and positive staff isolated in line with guidance.
“An area of the home has been allocated and used specifically to isolate and care for people diagnosed with Covid 19.” from the report
Family visits
Visitors could see and speak with their relatives through a clear screen without entering the home.
“This enabled people to see and talk with their loved ones, whilst keeping other people and staff safe.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are Covid-19 testing, isolation and outbreak arrangements managed now?
- 02How do staff receive training and reminders about using protective equipment safely?
- 03How are frequently touched surfaces cleaned, and how often is this checked?
- 04How can families visit now, and what infection control measures are in place for visits?
- 05How are new admissions assessed and managed if there is an infection risk?
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 August 2020 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, July 2018
Victoria Care Centre was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with some records and personalised-care improvements still needed.
This was a comprehensive inspection on 22 and 31 May 2018. The first day was unannounced. Inspectors observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care plans, medicines, staff records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were treated with kindness and respect, received suitable care and medicines, and had access to healthcare, food, activities and support that matched their needs.
There were some areas to improve. These included occasional interruptions during medicines rounds, incomplete evidence about lessons learned from incidents, limited detail about some people's personal and end-of-life wishes, and activity records that did not give a complete picture.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors observed friendly, respectful and sensitive interactions, with privacy protected during personal care.
“People were treated with kindness and respect by staff.” from the report
Personalised care information
Care plans included people's needs and preferences and were reviewed when needs changed. Staff knew people well and used the plans to guide their care.
“People's care plans were up to date and included information staff required for providing people with personalised care and support.” from the report
Safe medicines systems
Medicines checks, staff competency checks and medical reviews were in place. The earlier medicines concern had been addressed by the time of this inspection.
“People were protected by the proper and safe management of medicines.” from the report
Good access to healthcare
People had regular access to doctors and other healthcare professionals. Their health needs were monitored and specialist advice was sought when needed.
“People had very good access to medical care services.” from the report
Supportive leadership
The management team had clear lines of accountability and encouraged staff to speak up and suggest improvements. People, relatives and staff were able to give feedback.
“There were a range of processes in place to monitor the quality of the service and drive improvement.” from the report
Interruptions during medicines rounds
needs fixingInspectors saw a nurse being interrupted despite wearing a tabard intended to prevent interruptions. Management said staff would be reminded that interruptions should happen only when urgent.
“However, we observed that despite one nurse wearing a tabard they were still occasionally interrupted when administering medicines.” from the report
Incident records did not show learning
needs fixingIncidents and accidents were reviewed, but records did not show the lessons learned or trends identified. Management said this information would be added to monthly quality reports.
“Records of lessons learnt, trends identified during regular review of incidents and accidents were not available.” from the report
Some personal information was missing
needs fixingSome records had little or no information about sexuality, culture or religion. Management said care plans would be reviewed and staff training would be improved.
“However, records did not indicate that staff had a good understanding of people's sexuality needs.” from the report
People's involvement in care reviews
needs fixingCare plans were reviewed regularly, but the records did not show that people had been asked for their views about their care. The home said it would involve people more actively.
“Records of care plan reviews did not show that people had been asked for their feedback about their care and the service that they received.” from the report
Activity records were incomplete
needs fixingThe home offered a range of activities, but records from different staff were not joined together. This meant it was not clear how many activities each person had taken part in, and some people said they did not often join activities.
“Therefore, the records did not provide an accurate picture of the number and type of activities people took part in.” from the report
End-of-life wishes lacked detail
minorAdvanced care plans included some preferences, but often did not record detailed personal wishes, such as who people wanted with them or the atmosphere they wanted at the end of life.
“However, they lacked detail about whether the person had any particular wishes they wanted fulfilled when they were near the end of their life.” from the report
- 01How do you now prevent interruptions when nurses are administering medicines?
- 02How do you record incidents, the lessons learned and any patterns or trends?
- 03How will you make sure care plans include each person's sexuality, cultural, religious and other personal needs?
- 04How are residents and families involved in care plan reviews and decisions about care?
- 05How do you record activities for each person, including people who spend most of their time in their bedroom?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five questions and both the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 July 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Victoria Care Centre
5 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: Good
- June 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015Goodstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvement
- August 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2014Inspected but not rated
- December 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 December 2013.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Brent
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 £1,260 a week. 74 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“The quality of life that she's given my parents has been priceless. The peace of mind she's given my sisters and I, through a very difficult time, has been invaluable.”
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult 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.