CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ocean Swell
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, medicines, staffing, recruitment and infection control were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found that the home was consistently managed and well-led. People, relatives, staff and professionals were asked for their views, and checks were used to identify and address shortfalls.
What inspectors found, April 2023
Ocean Swell was rated Good; inspectors found people were safe, supported and listened to.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 13 March 2023. Inspectors looked only at Safe and Well-led because concerns had been raised about records and working with professionals. They spoke with 8 people, 10 relatives and 6 staff, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely, staff were recruited safely and infection control was followed. People said they felt safe and that staff were kind and caring.
Inspectors found an open culture. People and relatives were asked for their views, concerns were listened to and improvements had been made since the previous inspection. The overall Good rating remained unchanged from the previous rating published in May 2018.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff responded promptly and knew how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns.
“People told us they were happy living at Ocean Swell, they told us they felt safe and staff were kind and caring.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were ordered, stored, given and disposed of in line with national guidance. Staff followed instructions for medicines given when needed.
“Medicines were ordered, stored, administered and dispose of in line with national guidance.” from the report
Kind and supportive staff
People described staff as kind, caring and available when needed. Staff supported people to remain independent.
“People told us they were supported to remain independent.” from the report
Open management
Staff said they felt supported and trusted. The home had systems for hearing views, handling concerns and improving the service.
“There was an open culture in the staff team.” from the report
Improvements since the last inspection
The home had refurbished or redecorated areas and introduced an electronic care planning system. Audits were completed and action was taken when shortfalls were found.
“The provider had a successful programme of continuous improvement in operation.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you make sure care records remain accurate and up to date?
- 02How do you work with health professionals, including when people's health needs change?
- 03How do you check that medicines given when needed are given at safe intervals?
- 04How will you continue to support my relative's independence?
- 05How are relatives told about accidents or changes in their loved one's health?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the last comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 April 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, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 24 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements, and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected people.
Inspectors found examples of good practice. Visitors could visit without restrictions, people were supported to go out, and checks were made for COVID-19 tests and vaccination where required.
The home was using testing, personal protective equipment, cleaning and other measures to reduce infection risks. Inspectors were assured about these arrangements and found the infection control policy was up to date.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other key areas of care.
Visiting was supported
People could receive visitors in their bedrooms or communal areas. Visitors had to show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test, with visits booked so extra cleaning could take place.
“People received visitors when they wanted in their bedroom or communal areas.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks, including through PPE, testing, hygiene and infection outbreak arrangements.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Testing arrangements
People and staff were following the current COVID-19 testing programme to help identify infections quickly.
“People and staff are following the current Covid-19 testing programme to quickly identify any infections.” from the report
Meaningful involvement
When they wanted to, people could help clean their bedrooms. Inspectors recorded that this gave one person a sense of purpose.
“When people wanted to, they were supported to clean their bedroom.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing staffing pressures, and have these affected people's care or activities?
- 02What are the current arrangements for visitors, including testing, vaccination and booking visits?
- 03How do you currently monitor and record COVID-19 testing and PPE use for people and staff?
- 04What infection control equipment and cleaning arrangements are currently in place?
- 05Which areas of care have been reviewed since this targeted inspection, as they were not rated in this report?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key areas were not covered. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 March 2022 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 Ocean Swell
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
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.