CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Crecy Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were supported by enough staff who understood their risks. Medicines were given safely, although the medicines room was too warm and the full minimum and maximum refrigerator temperatures were not being recorded.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. The report used the rating from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with dignity and respect and supported independence. However, one person said their views had not been sought, and not all opportunities to offer choices were taken.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. The report used the rating from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Staff felt supported and understood their roles. The home had quality checks and the manager acted on feedback, although one relative said the family was not always kept informed.
What inspectors found, September 2021
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, respectful care, but some choices, family communication and medicine storage records needed attention.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 22 July and 3 August 2021. Inspectors looked at Safe, Caring and Well-led after concerns about the home's culture, dignity, risk management and medicines. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, observed care and checked records and medicines.
Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines support, good infection control and staff who understood people's risks and communication needs. People were generally treated with kindness and respect. The home had systems for checking quality and the manager responded to issues raised during the visits.
The overall rating was Good, as were Safe, Caring and Well-led. Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so the report used ratings from earlier comprehensive inspections for those areas. Caring had fallen from Outstanding at the previous inspection in February 2018 to Good.
Kind and familiar care
Staff knew people well and were committed to making their lives better. Inspectors saw relaxed and respectful relationships between staff and people living in the home.
“People were supported by staff who knew them well and were committed to ensuring they had good lives.” from the report
Staffing and risk support
Inspectors found enough staff and saw that staff understood people's risks while supporting independence.
“There were enough staff and they were deployed to meet people's needs.” from the report
Safe medicines support
People received medicines as prescribed. Staff were trained and checked, and medicines audits and incident reviews were in place.
“People were given their medicines safely and in the way prescribed for them.” from the report
Clean and infection-aware home
The home was clean and inspectors were assured that infection prevention measures, including protective equipment, testing and visiting arrangements, were in place.
“People lived in a home that was kept clean and infection prevention and control measures were in place to reduce the risks associated with Covid-19.” from the report
Supportive management
Staff described an open team and said they felt supported. Quality checks were used to identify and act on improvements.
“The systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service were robust” from the report
Some choices were missed
minorPeople were supported to make decisions, but inspectors saw that choice was not offered every time. For example, people were not offered a choice of drink at one mealtime.
“People were encouraged to make decisions about their day to day life but not all opportunities to enable choice were taken.” from the report
Medicine storage records
needs fixingThe medicines room was warmer than the manufacturer's recommended temperature. The full minimum and maximum refrigerator temperature range was also not being recorded.
“However, the temperatures in the medicines room were warmer than the manufacturer's recommendations for storing medicines.” from the report
Family communication
needs fixingOne relative said the family, including a relative with power of attorney, was not always kept informed. The manager said this would be addressed.
“One relative asked us to highlight that the family, including a relative who held power of attorney, were not always kept informed.” from the report
Caring rating fell
minorCaring was rated Good rather than Outstanding. Inspectors noted that one person's views about their care had not initially been sought and that a staff member had made an unprofessional comment when exasperated.
“At the last inspection this key question was rated as outstanding. At this inspection this key question has deteriorated to good.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure each person is offered choices at every meal, including drinks?
- 02What action was taken to keep the medicines room within the manufacturer's recommended temperature?
- 03Are you now recording the full minimum and maximum temperature range for the medicines refrigerator?
- 04How will you keep relatives, including anyone with power of attorney, informed about the person's care?
- 05How are people's views recorded in their care plans and regular care plan reviews?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led only; the report says the other key questions were not inspected and used ratings from previous comprehensive inspections. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 September 2021 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, February 2018
Rated Good, with Outstanding caring; inspectors found kind, personalised care and improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced inspection over three visits in December 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They observed care and checked care records, staff files, medicines, accidents and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall. It was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led, and Outstanding for Caring. People told inspectors they felt safe and were happy with their care. Staff understood people's needs, gave medicines as prescribed, supported health needs and offered activities and choices.
The previous inspection found breaches linked to risk management and monitoring the environment. This inspection found those improvements had been made. Inspectors also noted a small medicines-recording issue, and that decorative work and new furnishings were still needed in one house.
Kind and personalised care
Staff built strong relationships and adapted support to people's histories, interests, communication and choices. Inspectors saw warm, respectful interactions throughout the visits.
“People received compassionate and kind care from staff who went the extra mile to promote their well-being.” from the report
Respect for dignity and choice
People were supported to make decisions, stay independent and maintain relationships. Staff respected privacy, personal appearance, cultural needs and sexuality.
“Staff supported people to maintain their independence in all aspects of their lives and the impact of this support was evident throughout our inspection.” from the report
Good risk management
Individual risks were assessed and staff knew how to reduce them while respecting people's choices. Earlier problems with eating and drinking risks had been addressed.
“At this inspection we found that these improvements had been made and the risks associated with eating and drinking were managed effectively.” from the report
Meaningful activities and relationships
People could take part in individual and group activities, go out locally and spend time with people who mattered to them. Activities reflected their interests and life histories.
“There was a focus on ensuring people had meaningful things to do with their time.” from the report
Strong end of life care
Inspectors heard positive feedback about compassionate and highly individualised end of life support. People's wishes were included in care planning where appropriate.
“People were cared for in ways that met their own wishes at the end of their lives.” from the report
Covert medicines record
needs fixingPharmacist advice about the route used to give covert medicines had not been recorded. The manager took immediate action to record this advice, but families should check how this is now reviewed.
“Pharmacist advice had not been recorded regarding the administration route of covert medicines.” from the report
- 01Has the planned decorative work and replacement of furnishings in the house now been completed?
- 02How is pharmacist advice about the administration route for covert medicines recorded and checked?
- 03How do you assess staffing levels when people's physical and mental health needs change?
- 04How will my relative's personal interests, activities and independence be included in their care plan?
- 05How are end of life wishes discussed, recorded and reviewed with the person and their representatives?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, including all five key questions, and it also checked improvements required after the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 February 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 Crecy Care Home
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- September 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodCaring: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- August 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 August 2015.
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
15 live-in carers within about an hour of Dorset
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 £1,040 to £1,340 a week. 11 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Even when things get a bit chaotic (as they sometimes do!), you’ve handled it with patience and a sense of humour — which is gold.”
“Nina was patient, focussed on my aunt's physical well-being, and unfazed by what at the time was a new and uncertain situation”
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.