CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Tara's Retreat Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including the use of protective equipment, testing, visiting and outbreak arrangements. The provider also said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Tara's Retreat Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good COVID-19 infection prevention arrangements.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 2 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors found good practice. The home was clean and well ventilated. Visitors were tested and required to wear suitable protective equipment. Staff were trained to use protective equipment safely.
The report says the provider was assured in areas including testing, admissions, protective equipment, social distancing, visiting and managing outbreaks. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Protective equipment
Staff were trained to put on, remove and dispose of protective equipment safely. Inspectors were assured that it was being used effectively.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was clean and well ventilated, with enough space for people and staff to socially distance outside bedrooms.
“The environment people lived in was clean and well ventilated.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
People could receive visitors and keep in contact with people important to them, while visitors were tested and required to use suitable protective equipment.
“People were enabled to receive visitors and maintained contact with people important to them.” from the report
Staff grouping
Staff were kept in the same units where possible. If they needed to move, testing was used before they did so.
“Staff were allocated to work in the same units as far as possible” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you currently prevent visitors from catching or spreading infections?
- 02What testing and protective equipment arrangements are now in place for visitors, staff and residents?
- 03How do you manage staffing pressures, and do staff still work in the same units where possible?
- 04How do you safely manage admissions and any infection outbreaks?
- 05What were the results of the most recent full inspection covering care quality beyond infection prevention?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other key questions or the service overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 February 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.
What inspectors found, June 2018
Tara's Retreat Care Home was rated Good, with safe, kind and personalised care and improved leadership.
Inspectors visited the home without notice on 23 May 2018. They observed care, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and reviewed care records, recruitment files, training records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safe medicines management, trained staff, respectful care and activities suited to people's interests.
The home was having building and refurbishment work during the inspection. Risk assessments were in place and the work was planned to limit disruption. The overall Good rating was unchanged from the previous inspection in March 2016.
Leadership had improved since the previous inspection. The Well-led area had previously been rated Requires Improvement, but inspectors found positive leadership, regular checks and an action plan for any shortfalls.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff on duty, robust recruitment checks and safe medicines procedures. The medicine records reviewed were complete.
“We observed there were enough staff on duty. This was confirmed through feedback from people and relatives.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were patient, friendly and respectful. They knew people's likes and dislikes and supported privacy and dignity.
“We observed interactions between staff and people and found these to be friendly and respectful.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans gave staff detailed information about people's needs and preferences. People and families were involved where possible.
“The comprehensive information in the care plans enabled staff to understand how to support people and to ensure their needs were met.” from the report
Activities and environment
People could take part in activities, spend time with staff in their rooms and use the gardens. The environment included memory boxes and memorabilia to help people recognise where they were.
“People were supported to participate in a range of activities that were of interest to them.” from the report
Improved leadership
Leadership had improved since the previous inspection. Inspectors found a welcoming culture, regular quality checks and an action plan for improvements.
“The current registered manager joined the service in July 2017 and has since made positive and notable improvements to all aspects of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How was the building and refurbishment work completed, and did it affect residents' daily lives?
- 02How do you review care plans when a person's needs or abilities change?
- 03How often are medicines audits completed, and how are staff checked as competent to administer medicines?
- 04What activities are available for someone who prefers to spend time in their bedroom?
- 05How can families give feedback or make a complaint, and how are concerns acted on?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, including accommodation and care, with all five question ratings reviewed. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 June 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 Tara's Retreat Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- June 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 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
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hertfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.