CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Little Wakering House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Staffing, recruitment, risk assessments, medicines, infection control and learning from incidents were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not rated in this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not rated in this inspection, although inspectors reported that care promoted dignity, privacy and human rights.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not rated in this inspection, although inspectors found care was personalised and adapted when people's needs or wishes changed.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive, inclusive culture, clear staff roles and systems to monitor the service. People and relatives were involved in care reviews and the manager understood their responsibilities.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Little Wakering House was rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and strong management.
The unannounced inspection took place on 14 November 2023. Two inspectors spoke with five people, three relatives and four staff. They reviewed care records, medicine records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine practice, appropriate recruitment checks and systems to manage risks, infections and incidents.
People were supported to make choices, stay independent and take part in community activities. Care was personalised, and staff helped people access health professionals. The previous inspection rating was also Good, published in December 2018.
Safe staffing and recruitment
The home had enough staff to support people's planned activities. Recruitment checks were completed before staff started work.
“People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed.” from the report
Personalised support
Care was based on people's needs and wishes. Staff supported people to stay independent and take part in community activities.
“Care was personalised to people's needs and staff reviewed and adapted support as people's needs or wishes changed.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors found that the home was inclusive and focused on helping people achieve positive outcomes.
“There was a positive culture at the service, which was inclusive, and person centred, promoting positive outcomes for people.” from the report
Learning and development
Staff received regular training and the manager arranged specialist training to improve support for people with specific needs.
“The registered manager had worked with the Prada Willi association to source this training for staff to equip them with the skills they need to support people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's individual risks and support needs?
- 02How will my relative be supported to make everyday decisions and take part in activities outside the home?
- 03How do you make sure medicines are given safely and reviewed when needed?
- 04What specialist training have staff received that is relevant to my relative's condition and needs?
- 05How often will my relative and our family be involved in reviewing their care?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key question ratings were not given in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 November 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, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 27 November 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using personal protective equipment safely, following shielding and social distancing rules, and accessing testing for people and staff.
The home supported contact with families through phone and video calls, photographs, tablets and a safe visiting area in the garden. People who needed to isolate had dedicated staff.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report therefore does not give a full overall quality rating or ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable arrangements to prevent and manage infection, including the use of PPE and testing.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Family contact
The home arranged phone and video calls, exchanged photographs and created a safe visiting place in the garden.
“Regular phone or video calls and photograph exchanges were arranged with people that used the service and their family and friends.” from the report
Support during isolation
People who needed to isolate had dedicated staff to meet their support needs.
“People who would be isolating at the service had their own dedicated staff to meet their support needs.” from the report
Communication support
People had their own tablet computers as part of a project to improve communication.
“People that used the service had received their own computer tablets as part of a project to enhance communication.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently asked to use PPE and follow infection control procedures?
- 02How do you arrange visits, phone calls and video calls with family members now?
- 03What happens if someone living here needs to isolate, and which staff will support them?
- 04How do you access testing for people living here and for staff?
- 05How would you manage an infection outbreak in the home?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control only, so the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 December 2020 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 Little Wakering House
4 rated inspections over 9 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 February 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.