CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Carers Choices
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found safeguarding procedures, reviewed risk assessments, safe recruitment and enough staff. Medicines were managed safely where staff provided this support, and incidents were monitored.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff received induction, training, supervision and appraisals. People were supported with food, healthcare and day-to-day choices, and staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind, compassionate and caring. Inspectors found that privacy, dignity, independence and involvement in care planning were respected.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans recorded people's needs, preferences and how they wanted to be supported. Plans were reviewed regularly or when needs changed, and there were arrangements for complaints and accessible information.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a visible manager, supported staff and a positive, person-centred culture. Audits, meetings, questionnaires and other checks were used to monitor the service.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Carers Choices was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some improvement work still in progress.
This was a comprehensive, announced inspection carried out on 16 and 19 July 2018. The inspector reviewed care files, staff records, medicines arrangements, policies and quality checks. They also spoke with a person using the service, relatives, care staff and managers, and considered questionnaire responses.
The agency provided short-term respite care, domiciliary care and home support. Inspectors looked only at people receiving a regulated activity. They found that people were safe, staff were trained and supported, and care was kind, respectful and tailored to individual needs.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating stayed Good because inspectors found no serious risks or concerns and said the evidence continued to support this rating.
Consistent staffing
People and relatives said they received support from a consistent team. Feedback also said staff were punctual, stayed for the allocated time and did not miss calls.
“People and relatives told us they received care and support from a consistent team of staff and told us how important this was to them.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as caring and compassionate. Inspectors found that staff respected privacy and dignity and promoted independence.
“People and relatives told us they received support from staff who were caring, compassionate and kind.” from the report
Staff training and support
New staff received induction and staff had ongoing training, supervision and appraisals. Staff said managers were available to provide support and guidance.
“Staff continued to receive training and support to enable them to meet the individual needs of people.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The agency used audits, meetings and questionnaires to check the quality of its service and gather people's views. Inspectors found questionnaire responses were very positive.
“Systems were in place to regularly monitor the quality of the service being provided.” from the report
Personalisation project not finished
minorA document designed to record the small things that matter to each person was still being introduced. The agency said it was already making a difference, but the work was not complete at the inspection.
“It is still work in progress, but we are finding it is making a big difference.” from the report
- 01How will you match care workers to my relative's preferences, including any preference about the worker's gender?
- 02How will you make sure staff know about my relative's medicines, risks and changing needs?
- 03How far has the 'Simple Pleasures' document been completed for people using the service?
- 04If my relative's needs change, how quickly will their care plan be reviewed and staff informed?
- 05Which staff have completed end-of-life care training, and what support is available if this care is needed?
This was a comprehensive inspection of the regulated activity, covering 15 of the 48 people using the agency; other people and activities were not included. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 August 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.
Every inspection of Carers Choices
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 August 2012.
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
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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.