CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Falcon House Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home had effective infection prevention and control arrangements. This included testing, use of personal protective equipment, social distancing, cleaning, safe admissions and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were safe.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 2 February 2021. It focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
The home was following whole-home testing guidance for residents and staff. People were supported to isolate when needed, and the layout supported social distancing and cleaning.
Inspectors were assured about visitors, shielding, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, hygiene and managing outbreaks. The inspection did not give an overall quality rating.
Testing arrangements
The home was following government guidance on testing residents and staff, including rapid tests and weekly staff testing.
“The registered manager was following the government's guidance on whole home testing for people and staff.” from the report
Infection control environment
People were supported to isolate when needed. The layout allowed social distancing and was easy to keep clean.
“People were supported to isolate when required and the environment had been set up to encourage social distancing.” from the report
Family contact
The home supported contact with relatives through video and telephone calls, as well as visits when it was safe.
“People were being supported to maintain contact with their families by video and telephone calls” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are residents and staff tested now, and how often?
- 02How does the home currently manage isolation and social distancing when needed?
- 03How does the home make sure personal protective equipment is used safely?
- 04How are visitors and family contact managed now?
- 05What arrangements are in place to prevent or manage an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted, unannounced inspection of infection prevention and control only; the service was inspected but not rated overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 March 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 2019
Rated Good in all five areas; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some activities and end-of-life planning still being developed.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 13 December 2018. One inspector and an expert by experience reviewed information, spoke with eight people, one family member, the manager and four staff, and observed care.
The home was rated Good overall and Good for Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were safe, staff were kind, care plans were detailed, medicines were managed safely and there were enough staff to meet people's needs.
The home had continued to meet the standard for a Good rating since the previous inspection. Inspectors noted that some people wanted more structured activities, and that more detailed, personalised end-of-life care plans were still being developed.
People felt safe
Risks were assessed and care plans explained how staff should support people safely. People told inspectors they felt safe and well looked after.
“People were safe living in the service. Risks had been identified and people told us they felt safe and well looked after.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well, listened to them and supported their dignity, privacy and independence.
“We found that staff had built up positive relationships with people and knew them well.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Inspectors found that medicines were recorded, stored and disposed of correctly. Staff checked that people had taken them before moving on.
“All medicines were recorded, stored and disposed of correctly and there were management processes in place to ensure staff were competent to administer people's prescribed medicines.” from the report
Good management oversight
The management team used checks and action plans to monitor care, medicines and health and safety. Staff described managers as approachable and supportive.
“A range of quality checks were carried out to monitor the quality of the service.” from the report
More structured activities
needs fixingSome people said they would like more organised activities. The home was recruiting an activity co-ordinator to help provide more choice, including outings.
“However, some people told us they would like the opportunity to do more structured activities which would be possible with the recruitment of additional activity staff.” from the report
End-of-life care plans
needs fixingThe home worked with hospice and district nursing services, but was developing more detailed and personalised end-of-life care plans. Some families had been reluctant to complete the paperwork.
“The care manager told us they were looking into developing more robust detailed end of life care plans for people that would be more person centred.” from the report
- 01What structured activities are available now, and how do you respond if a resident wants more activities or an outing?
- 02Has each resident's personalised end-of-life care plan been completed and agreed with them and their family?
- 03How do you check that staffing levels remain suitable for the needs of people living here?
- 04How do you support residents who choose to manage some of their own medicines?
- 05How are residents and relatives involved in reviewing care plans and raising concerns?
This inspection looked at the home and care provided across all five CQC questions; all five ratings were Good and each remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 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 Falcon House Residential Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Falcon House Residential Home →
- February 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Falcon House Residential Home →
- September 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 July 2011.
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.
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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.