CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Primecare
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2021
Primecare rated Good; inspectors found safer care and stronger management, with some work still needed for dementia-friendly surroundings and care records.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 8 October 2021. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were cared for safely, medicines were managed well, staff understood people's needs, and healthcare and nutrition were supported.
The inspection found clear improvement since the previous rating of Requires Improvement in October 2020. The provider had completed an action plan and was no longer in breach of regulations.
This inspection did not assess Caring or Responsive. Those ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection, so the overall Good rating is not based on a fresh review of all five areas.
Improved safety systems
Risk management, safeguarding referrals and learning from accidents and incidents had improved since the last inspection.
“Systems were now in place to monitor accidents and incidents and ensure safeguarding concerns were referred in a timely manner.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were stored securely, checked and recorded correctly. Audits identified and dealt with shortfalls.
“Medicines were managed safely and stored securely. Regular temperature checks were made on storage to ensure medicines maintained their effectiveness.” from the report
Better staff training
Training had been expanded to cover people's specific needs, including dysphagia, epilepsy and Parkinson's.
“At this inspection improvements had been made and additional training to meet people's needs was now included.” from the report
Stronger management oversight
The provider was using audits and monthly reviews more effectively to identify problems and reduce the risk of them happening again.
“Audits were being used more effectively to identify any shortfalls to the quality and safety at the service.” from the report
Dementia-friendly environment
minorSome corridors and bedroom doors looked alike and lacked signs or objects to help people identify their rooms. Inspectors recommended reviewing guidance on supportive environments for people living with dementia.
“Corridors and bedroom doors looked the same and had no distinguishing signs or prompts for people to clearly identify their room.” from the report
Finding staff
minorAlthough staffing levels were considered sufficient, one relative said it could sometimes be difficult to find a member of staff to ask a question.
“it was sometimes difficult to find staff if they wanted to ask a question.” from the report
Missing laundry
needs fixingA small number of concerns had been raised about missing laundry. The manager knew about this and was working on improvements.
“a couple of concerns were raised both in recent surveys and to us about missing laundry” from the report
- 01Have all care plans now been transferred to the electronic system, and how do you check that the information is complete and up to date?
- 02What changes have you made to help people living with dementia recognise their bedroom and find their way around?
- 03How do you make sure a staff member is available when residents or relatives need to ask a question?
- 04What action have you taken about missing laundry, and how do you track whether the problem has improved?
- 05How are Caring and Responsive performance monitored now, since they were not assessed in this focused inspection?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not assessed and their previous ratings were carried over. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 November 2021 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 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were safe and effective.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 18 February 2021. It checked infection prevention and control arrangements because of coronavirus outbreaks in care homes.
Inspectors found a clean home with suitable social distancing, safe visiting arrangements and correct laundry and waste procedures. Staff had completed infection prevention and control training, including how to use personal protective equipment.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit looked only at infection prevention and control, rather than giving an overall judgement about all aspects of care.
Safe visiting
The home had a dedicated visiting hub with screening, separate doors and ventilation. It was cleaned between visits.
“The room had a divider screen, and separate external doors for visitors and people that used the service.” from the report
Staff training
All staff had completed infection prevention and control training, including training on protective equipment.
“Staff had all completed infection prevention and control training and this included the correct procedures for using PPE.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean, and its layout and hygiene arrangements were used to reduce infection risks.
“The service was clean throughout. There were appropriate procedures to ensure infection control risks were minimised.” from the report
Laundry and waste controls
Laundry and waste arrangements were implemented correctly, including a separate area for clean laundry.
“As part of full infection control measures, laundry and waste arrangements had been correctly implemented to reduce the spread of infection.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently using the dedicated visiting arrangements?
- 02How do you make sure staff continue to use protective equipment correctly?
- 03How often are visiting areas cleaned and ventilated between visits?
- 04How are testing and outbreak-management arrangements working now?
- 05How are clean laundry and waste kept separate to reduce infection risks?
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only, so the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 March 2021 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 Primecare
5 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2021Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2020Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 July 2013.
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.