CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Eastwood House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe and staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Risks, staffing, infection control and medicines were checked and inspectors found systems to support safe care.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection report.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection report.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and people had activity timetables and support to take part in community activities. Communication needs and complaints arrangements were also considered.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was described as approachable and supportive. Audits, meetings and feedback were used to monitor the home and identify improvements.
What inspectors found, June 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, personalised care, but some flooring and decoration needed improvement.
The inspection took place on 24 May 2023. One inspector spoke with people, staff, the manager, the provider and relatives. They reviewed care records, medicines records, risk assessments, staff files, training records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall, and Good for Safe, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, detailed risk assessments, personalised care plans and activities chosen by people.
People and relatives said they felt safe and could raise concerns. The home had improved its activities support since the last inspection, when Responsive was rated Requires Improvement. Some flooring needed replacing and some areas needed redecorating.
Detailed risk plans
Risk assessments gave staff clear instructions about how to support people safely and were reviewed regularly.
“Risk assessments were very detailed and gave staff clear guidance on how to support people safely.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans contained enough information for staff to support people's preferences, interests and needs.
“Care plans were personalised. This helped to ensure staff had the information they needed to meet people's needs.” from the report
Activities and community links
People were supported to choose activities and spend time in the community. This addressed the recommendation from the previous inspection.
“Each person had an activity timetable in place. They were able to choose how they spent their time and lived their lives how they wanted.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The home used audits, meetings and feedback to check care and act on shortfalls.
“There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and to identify shortfalls or areas for improvement.” from the report
Flooring and decoration
minorSome flooring needed replacing and some areas needed redecorating. The home said this work would be carried out within four to six weeks, but the report does not confirm completion.
“We noted some of the flooring needed to be renewed and some areas of the service needed redecorating.” from the report
Manager registration
minorThere was no registered manager in post during the inspection. A new manager had applied to register, and the application was still being assessed.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post.” from the report
- 01Has the flooring been replaced and have all the areas needing decoration been completed?
- 02Has the new manager's application to become registered been approved?
- 03How does the home check the quality of care in the Effective and Caring areas, which were not rated in this inspection?
- 04How are activity timetables reviewed to make sure they still reflect each person's interests and choices?
- 05How will you keep me informed if my relative's health needs or care plan change?
This inspection looked at Safe, Responsive and Well-led; Effective and Caring were not rated in the report. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 June 2023 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, May 2018
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care, but support for hobbies and activities required improvement.
This was the home's first inspection since it registered with the CQC. It was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 12 April 2018. One inspector and an expert by experience observed care, spoke with people, relatives, managers and staff, and checked care, medicines, staffing and other records.
Inspectors found that people were safe and supported by enough suitably checked and trained staff. Medicines were managed safely. People's health and nutrition needs were met, and staff worked with health and social care professionals. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
The main weakness was activities. Some people said they had little to do, and inspectors saw limited individual support for people's hobbies and interests. The home was rated Requires Improvement for Responsive, while Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led were rated Good. The overall service rating was Good.
Safe care
The home identified risks such as falls, changes in behaviour, environmental risks and medicines, with guidance for staff on how to reduce them.
“Risks to people were identified and guidance was provided on how to mitigate risks when supporting people.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw staff speaking patiently and gently, while protecting people's dignity, privacy and independence.
“Staff knew people well and provided care with dignity and kindness.” from the report
Health and nutrition
People received suitable food and drink, and staff arranged health appointments and worked with relevant professionals when needed.
“People were supported to eat a balanced diet and their nutritional needs were met.” from the report
Personalised care records
Care plans covered people's care, lifestyle and relationship needs and were reviewed each month or when people's needs changed.
“Personalised care plans were developed and reviewed each month or were updated when needed.” from the report
Management checks
The management team regularly checked areas including care plans, medicines, finances, records, staff training and the premises.
“Quality assurance audits took place regularly to ensure the service was safe and people's needs were being met.” from the report
Limited individual activities
needs fixingSome people said there was little to do. Inspectors saw the television on for much of the day and limited individual interaction to support specific hobbies and interests. The provider was given a recommendation to develop personalised activity plans.
“We did not see much individual interaction with people to help them pursue specific interests.” from the report
Overdue gas safety check
needs fixingThe annual gas safety check was five months overdue when inspectors visited. It was arranged for the following day and the provider later supplied a completed record.
“The supply was last serviced in November 2016 and was required to be serviced again in November 2017.” from the report
Some uncertainty about complaints
minorAlthough a complaints procedure was displayed and no formal complaints had been received, some people were unsure how to complain.
“I don't really know how to make a complaint normally; I just go and see the manager.” from the report
Some stained furnishings
minorThe home was cleaned daily, but inspectors saw stains on some carpets and sofas that needed further cleaning.
“The environment was tidy and was cleaned daily, although we noted that some of the carpets and sofa's had a few stains that required further cleaning.” from the report
- 01What individual activities and hobbies are currently planned for my relative, and how are their preferences recorded?
- 02How do you make sure people who do not join group activities still have meaningful things to do?
- 03How do you explain the complaints process to people who may find written information difficult to understand?
- 04When was the most recent gas safety check, and how do you make sure future annual checks are completed on time?
- 05What action has been taken to clean or replace the stained carpets and sofas?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and was the home's first inspection since registering with the CQC. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 May 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 Eastwood House
2 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2018GoodSafe: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- February 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 February 2017.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Redbridge
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Most charge £980 to £1,250 a week. 75 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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