CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Cartref House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and risks were assessed and managed. Medicines, staffing, infection control and emergency arrangements were found to be suitable, although one bathroom needed repair because of mould.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training and support to meet people's needs. People had enough to eat and drink, access to healthcare, and support with choice and decision-making.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, respect and dignity. People were supported to communicate, make choices, keep relationships and live as independently as possible.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and interests and were reviewed. Activities were based on what people enjoyed, and an accessible complaints process was available.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management was described as approachable and supportive. Feedback was sought, staff were supervised, and audits were used to monitor and improve the service.
What inspectors found, June 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with one bathroom needing repair because of mould.
This was an unannounced inspection on 17 May 2018. One inspector and one expert by experience spoke with people, a relative and staff. They observed care and lunchtime, checked care and staff records, and reviewed medicines, complaints, accidents and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were safe, supported by trained staff, treated with kindness and involved in their care and daily lives.
People had individual care plans, access to health professionals and activities suited to their interests. Staff supported communication, independence, choice and relationships. The home had systems for medicines, safeguarding, staffing, complaints and monitoring quality.
Inspectors found one bathroom had mould on parts of the wall and ceiling and recommended that it be included in the maintenance programme and refurbished. The overall Good rating remained unchanged from the previous inspection on 15 March 2016.
Safe care
Inspectors found that risks were managed, medicines were handled safely and there were enough staff to support people safely.
“People continued to receive safe care; risks associated with people's care and support were managed safely and relatives were confident their family members were safe and well cared for.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People were treated as individuals. Staff promoted privacy, dignity, choice and freedom.
“People's needs continued to be met by staff who were kind and respectful. People's privacy and dignity were promoted at all times.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, interests and individual needs. Staff used different ways to support communication.
“People's care plans contained information about their personal preferences and focussed on individual needs.” from the report
Activities and independence
People were encouraged to take part in household tasks, activities and outings that matched their interests and helped them become more independent.
“Staff encouraged people to undertake activities and supported them to become more independent.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager and provider carried out regular checks and took action when shortfalls were found.
“The registered manager and provider regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care to ensure standards were met and maintained.” from the report
Bathroom mould and repairs
needs fixingInspectors found that one bathroom needed repair, with mould on parts of the wall and ceiling. They recommended that refurbishment be included in the ongoing maintenance programme.
“However, on the day of the inspection, we noted that one of the bathrooms was in need of repair as parts of the wall and ceiling were covered in mould.” from the report
- 01Has the bathroom with mould on the wall and ceiling now been repaired and refurbished?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, including the use of pictures, signs or other methods?
- 03How would my relative be involved in reviewing their care plan and making decisions about their care?
- 04What activities and outings could be arranged around my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05How would you support my relative to manage medicines safely and in their preferred way?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, with observations, discussions, record checks and feedback from health and social care professionals. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 June 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 Cartref House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 November 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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.