CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Greenacres
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective risk assessments, enough staff and safe medicines management. Staff understood safeguarding procedures, and the home had systems to learn from incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff received training, supervision and appraisals. People had their needs assessed, were supported with food and fluids, received healthcare support and were asked for consent.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind, respectful and caring. Inspectors observed staff supporting choices, independence, privacy and dignity.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's individual needs and were updated when circumstances changed. The home had a complaints process and supported people with comfortable and dignified end of life care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager, an open and inclusive culture, and regular quality audits. People could give feedback through a residents' council, and the provider worked with other services.
What inspectors found, February 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
This was a comprehensive, unannounced inspection on 28 November 2017. Inspectors spoke with seven people, relatives and staff. They reviewed six care records, four staff recruitment and training records, complaints information and the home's quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff, safe medicines systems and infection control measures.
People were supported by trained staff who respected their choices and dignity. Care plans were reviewed when needs changed, complaints were handled through a clear process, and people receiving end of life care were supported to remain comfortable.
The home was rated Good at its previous inspection and remained Good at this inspection. No breaches or enforcement action are mentioned in the report.
Safety systems
Inspectors found personalised risk assessments, enough staff and safe medicines systems. The home also used incidents to reduce future risks.
“People were safe because there were effective risk assessments in place, and systems to keep them safe from abuse or avoidable harm.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were supported by staff who listened, respected their choices and promoted their independence and dignity.
“People were treated with kindness, respect and compassion by the staff and the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected individual needs and preferences. Staff involved people, relatives and professionals and updated plans when needs changed.
“Staff regularly reviewed the care provided and were guided through regular input by the person receiving care to ensure the care provided continued to meet their individual needs, in a person centred way.” from the report
End of life care
The home kept end of life plans under review and worked with doctors to support comfort and pain relief.
“People were supported at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.” from the report
Quality management
The registered manager and deputy manager carried out regular audits and took action when shortfalls were found. People and staff were also involved in improving the home.
“The provider had effective systems to assess and monitor the quality of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and update my relative's care plan if their needs change?
- 02How are medicines audits and staff competency checks carried out?
- 03How many staff will usually be available on each shift, and how quickly do they respond to call bells?
- 04How will you involve our family in decisions about end of life care and funeral wishes?
- 05What activities and support are available if my relative prefers to spend time in their room or cannot leave the home?
This was a comprehensive, unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the report says all five ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 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 Greenacres
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 January 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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Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hertfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.