CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Four Winds
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Risk assessments were current and staff understood how to manage people's risks. Medicines were managed safely, although a safeguarding investigation was ongoing during the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training, supervision and competency checks. People were supported with health appointments, food choices, communication needs and decisions under the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw respectful and kind interactions. Staff protected people's privacy and dignity, encouraged independence and supported relationships with family and others.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed, person-centred and up to date. Activities were planned around individual interests, and people received accessible information suited to their communication needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager was described as approachable and supportive, and audits and staff meetings were in place. However, the provider had recommended extra support for the registered manager because of recent concerns.
What inspectors found, December 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with an ongoing safeguarding investigation and extra management support needed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 November 2018 by one inspector. The inspector observed care, spoke with staff and relatives, and checked care, medicines, recruitment, training, safety and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practices, suitable training, detailed care plans and support for people's choices, relationships and community activities.
A safeguarding investigation was taking place at the time of the inspection. Inspectors said appropriate action had been taken to keep people safe. The provider had also decided that the registered manager needed extra support because of recent concerns.
The report says the rating remained Good and that there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns. This was written in a shorter format because the overall rating had not changed since the previous inspection.
Personalised care
Care plans covered people's individual needs and preferences, and staff knew how people preferred to communicate and receive support.
“People had support plans that were comprehensive, person centred and detailed.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff treating people with dignity and responding to them in a caring way. Independence and privacy were encouraged.
“We observed the caring and kindly way staff responded to people.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to choose activities and pursue interests such as swimming, arts and crafts, shopping and walks.
“People living at the service could choose what they wanted to do day to day.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received specialist training, regular supervision, appraisals and competency checks to help them meet people's needs.
“Staff also received a wide range of specialised training to ensure they could support people safely and carry out their roles effectively.” from the report
Safety systems
The home had risk assessments, recruitment checks, medicines audits and systems for learning from accidents and incidents.
“Risk assessments were in place and they accurately identified current risks to the person as well as ways for staff to minimise or appropriately manage those risks.” from the report
Safeguarding investigation
needs fixingA safeguarding investigation was ongoing during the inspection. Inspectors were satisfied that the provider had taken the matter seriously and had acted to keep people safe, but families should ask about the outcome.
“A safeguarding investigation was currently being undertaken by an operations manager independent of the service.” from the report
Extra management support
needs fixingThe provider had identified that the registered manager needed additional support because of recent concerns. A team co-ordinator was due to be recruited.
“due to recent concerns the provider had recommended additional support was required at the service to assist the registered manager.” from the report
- 01What was the outcome of the safeguarding investigation mentioned in the report, and what changes were made afterwards?
- 02What extra support was provided to the registered manager, and has the team co-ordinator role been filled?
- 03How do you check that staffing levels remain sufficient when the home is short-staffed?
- 04How are each person's activity plans reviewed, and what new opportunities have been identified since the inspection?
- 05How will people's end-of-life preferences be recorded if they need this support?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five rating areas, but the inspector checked one person's care and medicines records; the report used a shorter format because the overall Good rating had not changed. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 December 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 Four Winds
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 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.
“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.