CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Homelands
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People received their medicines safely and at the right time. Risks were assessed and managed, staffing was sufficient, and staff had appropriate safeguarding and recruitment checks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had training, supervision and knowledge of people's communication and support needs. People chose their meals and activities and were supported to access health services.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with dignity, kindness and respect. Staff supported independence, meaningful relationships and communication in ways suited to each person.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were individual, easy for people to understand and reviewed with them. People had varied activities and knew how to raise complaints or concerns.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers and staff shared a clear vision and used audits, meetings and development plans to improve the home. Inspectors noted that some earlier requests and meeting themes were not always reviewed and discussed.
What inspectors found, May 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some repairs and follow-up actions still outstanding.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 March 2018. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers. They reviewed care plans, risk assessments, recruitment files, medicine records, surveys and audits.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were safe, medicines were managed properly, staffing was sufficient and staff understood people's needs.
People were involved in their care, daily routines, meals and activities. Staff supported independence and used people's preferred communication methods. Care plans were personal and regularly reviewed.
The home remained Good, the same rating as at the previous inspection. Inspectors noted some outstanding repairs and improvements, including kitchen stools, decoration, a carpet and a bedroom door.
Safe medicines support
Some people managed their own medicines, with staff checking this safely. Other people managed their own creams and lotions.
“Medicines continued to be managed safely, and people were supported to be as independent as they wanted to be with their medicines.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans described people's preferences, abilities, communication styles and support needs. People were involved in reviewing and agreeing their plans.
“Care plans stressed the importance of enabling people to be independent, and contained guidance for staff and detailed what people could do for themselves” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors observed warm interactions. Staff knew people well and adapted how they communicated with each person.
“We observed many kind interactions between people and staff, many of which were jovial, with both parties laughing as a result.” from the report
Choice and independence
People chose meals, activities and routines. Some people went out independently, while others were supported with work, education, holidays and relationships.
“People continued to live full active lives and were involved in a number of different activities, depending on their likes.” from the report
Good transition planning
The home carefully planned one person's move from another service. The person visited beforehand and their care plan was reviewed after the move.
“Prior to the person moving in, a best interest meeting was held with the person, their relatives, their care manager and the manager of the service” from the report
Kitchen stools needed replacing
minorAn infection control audit had identified that the kitchen stools needed replacing. They had not yet been replaced when inspectors visited.
“The infection control audit in February 2018 highlighted the stools in the kitchen as needing replacing” from the report
Some repairs and decoration were outstanding
minorInspectors noted that parts of the home needed updating. A living room carpet and decoration, and a bedroom front door, had been identified for improvement but were not yet completed.
“We observed some areas of the home in need of updating, such as the living room decoration and carpet” from the report
Residents' meeting follow-up was not always clear
needs fixingThe report says previous meeting notes did not always appear to be reviewed. Some requests, including a door repair and a change of activity, continued to appear in meeting themes.
“However, it did not always seem previous meeting notes are reviewed and discussed” from the report
- 01Have the kitchen stools, living room carpet and decoration, and the bedroom front door now been replaced or repaired?
- 02How do you record and follow up requests made at residents' meetings?
- 03What support would my relative receive to manage their own medicines or creams safely?
- 04How would you support my relative to choose activities, meals and daily routines?
- 05How would you communicate with my relative if they use Makaton, pictures or another preferred method?
This inspection looked at the overall quality of the care home, including both the premises and care provided, and assessed all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 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 Homelands
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 December 2010.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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 £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.