CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Wide Cove
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable risk assessments and appropriate safeguarding arrangements. Medicines were given according to prescriptions, and stock records matched the amounts recorded as administered.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff understood people's health, nutritional and communication needs, and people were supported to access healthcare. Training was in place, although some updates were completed or booked during the inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed to be kind, compassionate and respectful. People were supported to make choices, maintain their dignity and develop their independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was tailored to people's preferences and changing needs. People chose activities and were supported to go out, although one support plan was still being written.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found active leadership, regular checks and a positive, person-centred culture. The provider was working on improving electronic rota systems and the recording of consent.
What inspectors found, February 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and person-centred care, with some records and training still being completed.
Inspectors visited on 9 and 11 January 2019 without warning. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, the provider and a healthcare professional. They reviewed care records, watched medicines being given and observed a lunchtime meal.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable medicines systems, good links with healthcare services and care that respected people's choices, dignity and independence.
The home continued to be rated Good, as it was at the previous inspection in June 2016. Some training was updated during the inspection, one support plan was incomplete, and the provider planned to improve how consent was recorded.
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people well and adapted how they communicated and supported each person. Inspectors saw warm, compassionate interactions and respect for people's individuality.
“We observed positive interactions between staff and people throughout our inspection.” from the report
Safe staffing and risk management
There were two regular support staff on shift at all times. Risks such as mobility, nutrition, swallowing and community access were assessed and reviewed.
“Risks were therefore, being reviewed and managed effectively for people.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were encouraged to make decisions, take part in daily tasks and live as independently as possible. They could move around the home freely and choose activities.
“People were being supported to be as independent as possible to maintain their skills and live as fulfilling a life as possible.” from the report
Good healthcare support
The home acted quickly when new health needs were identified. Staff supported people with healthcare appointments and communicated regularly with healthcare professionals.
“Healthcare professionals were in regular contact as seen in the records which demonstrated the service had good systems in place of communicating and referring when appropriate.” from the report
One incomplete support plan
needs fixingOne person's support plan was still being written. The manager was taking time to understand the person before completing it, but families should check how quickly this was finished.
“One person's support plan was in the process of being written and incomplete” from the report
Some training updates were pending
needs fixingTraining that needed updating was completed during the inspection, and medicines refresher training was booked for completion by the end of January 2019.
“Medication administration refresher training had been booked for staff to complete by the end of January 2019.” from the report
Consent records to be improved
minorThe provider said they would develop a clearer framework for recording consent under the Mental Capacity Act throughout care planning.
“The provider was supportive of new innovative ways to improve their systems and confirmed they would develop a clearer framework to improve how people's consent in line with Mental Capacity Act 2005 was recorded throughout the care planning process.” from the report
- 01Has the incomplete support plan now been finished, and how are support plans reviewed when people's needs change?
- 02Which staff have completed the medicines and safeguarding training updates, and how is refresher training tracked?
- 03How do you record people's consent and best-interest decisions throughout the care planning process?
- 04How will you make sure people continue to access the activities and community outings that matter to them?
- 05How are medicines stock checks and administration records reviewed between inspections?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service covering all five CQC questions, including care records, medicines, staffing, the environment and leadership systems. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 February 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 Wide Cove
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 31 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 Halton
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. 89 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.