CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Joseph Gardens
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Risks were assessed and plans were in place to reduce harm. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable safety checks, safe medicines management and good infection control.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff received induction, training, supervision and competency checks. People were supported with their diet, healthcare, decision-making and access to the community.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were warm, knew people well and supported privacy, dignity, independence, choice and family relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support plans were personalised, reviewed and updated. People were supported with their interests, education, holidays, community activities and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Staff morale was good and management was described as supportive and approachable. Audits and action plans were used to monitor quality and safety.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some concern about staff consistency.
The inspection was announced and involved one inspector. The home supported up to two adults with learning disabilities, and two people lived there on the inspection day. Inspectors observed care, spoke with staff and a relative, and reviewed care plans, medicines records, food records, audits and maintenance records.
Inspectors found the home safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Risks were assessed, staffing levels were sufficient, medicines were managed safely, and the home was clean and well maintained. Staff understood people's needs, supported choice and independence, helped people keep family links and supported regular community activities.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings in all five areas. Safe had improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection. The other four ratings remained Good.
Warm relationships
Inspectors saw calm and friendly interactions. Staff knew people's needs, likes and dislikes and supported their privacy and dignity.
“Staff showed warmth and affection in all their interactions. The atmosphere was calm and friendly.” from the report
Choice and independence
Care plans focused on people's strengths. Staff used pictures and other tools to help people communicate and make choices.
“There were systems in place to support choice and decision making.” from the report
Active lives
People were supported to follow hobbies, attend education, visit places in the community and maintain family relationships.
“People were supported to follow their own interests and hobbies.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The service used regular audits, family questionnaires and action plans to check quality and follow up any shortfalls.
“The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and drive improvement.” from the report
Staff consistency
minorStaff worked across this home and another service. A relative was concerned this could affect consistency, although the manager said some staff worked more regularly at this home.
“The staff team worked across two services and some concern was expressed to us by a relative about the impact this had on consistency.” from the report
- 01How often will familiar staff work at the home, given that staff also work across another service?
- 02How will you make sure my relative's communication methods and choices are understood by all staff?
- 03How are risks and incidents reviewed, and how are lessons shared with staff?
- 04How will you support my relative to maintain family relationships and take part in activities in the community?
- 05How are medicines, care plans and health appointments checked and kept up to date?
This inspection covered all five CQC questions and the overall rating; inspectors could not speak directly with the people living at the home, so they used observation, staff and relative feedback, and records. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 October 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 Joseph Gardens
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- October 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 August 2014.
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.