CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at 4 Cottage Walk
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm, and staff understood safeguarding, risk management and medicines. The home was clean, used protective equipment correctly and had systems for learning from incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and daily records were comprehensive. Staff had relevant training and people were supported with food, healthcare, communication and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff provided kind and compassionate care, used communication that people understood and respected privacy, dignity, choices and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was adapted as people's needs changed. People were supported with their communication, interests, relationships, daily living skills and plans for greater independence.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found visible and approachable management, effective quality checks and an open culture where staff could raise concerns and learn from incidents.
What inspectors found, October 2022
4 Cottage Walk is rated Good; inspectors found kind, person-centred care and effective safety arrangements.
This was the first inspection under the new registered provider. It was unannounced. One inspector visited on 3 and 12 August 2022, with inspection activity ending on 24 August 2022.
The home supports up to six people with a learning disability or autistic people. Five people were living there. Inspectors spoke with one person and four staff, observed care, and reviewed care, medicine, recruitment, training and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were supported to make choices, build independence, communicate in ways that suited them, access activities and receive healthcare.
The home had three staff vacancies during the inspection. Two had been filled but were awaiting final information, and recruitment was continuing for the third. Inspectors said there were enough staff to meet people's needs at the time.
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make choices, manage risks and develop independence. Support was designed around people's goals and strengths.
“The staff team supported people to have choice, control and independence.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were patient, calm and attentive to people's emotions, sensory needs and communication styles.
“People received kind and compassionate care from staff who used positive, respectful language which people understood and responded well to.” from the report
Personalised communication
People had individual communication plans, visual prompts and support from staff who understood how they communicated, including when they were non-verbal.
“Staff had good awareness, skills and understanding of individual communication needs.” from the report
Activities and community access
People were supported to take part in activities and pursue interests such as going into town, shopping and going out for lunch.
“People were supported to participate in their chosen social and leisure interests on a regular basis.” from the report
Staff training and oversight
Staff had a broad training programme, regular supervision and access to management support. The provider used regular audits and action plans to monitor quality.
“There was a structured programme to update all training, and the staff team had access to and had completed a comprehensive training programme.” from the report
Staff vacancies
minorThere were three vacancies during the inspection. Two people had been appointed but were awaiting final information, while recruitment for the remaining vacancy was continuing.
“At the time of the inspection there had been three staff vacancies, however, two of these had been filled and were awaiting final information and the third was open for recruitment.” from the report
- 01How many staff vacancies remain now, and has all final information been received for the two people who had been appointed?
- 02Who is currently responsible for the home's day-to-day management, and what is the progress of the application to register the on-site manager?
- 03How will you support my relative's individual communication needs, including if they communicate non-verbally or become distressed?
- 04How will my relative be supported to pursue their interests, access the local community and develop greater independence?
- 05How are medicines reviewed and managed so that people remain as independent as possible and are not over-medicated?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control; it was the first inspection under the new registered provider. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 October 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 4 Cottage Walk
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- October 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 December 2020.
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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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
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.