CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Cottage
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- The home had safeguarding arrangements, regular risk assessments, safe recruitment, trained staff and medication checks. There were gaps in staffing during sickness, although staff from other services were used to maintain a consistent team.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and care was generally personalised. One medication list had not been updated after a change, and some Mental Capacity Act records did not clearly show best-interest decisions.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect, and supported independence. Family advocates were not always told about changes.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was tailored to people's needs, communication styles, interests and goals. People were supported to maintain family relationships and take part in activities.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Management was visible and approachable, and audits and other systems were used to monitor quality. One family member wanted more communication.
What inspectors found, August 2023
The Cottage rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but some records and family communication needed improvement.
The inspection took place on 19 and 21 July 2023. One inspector spoke with six staff members and one family member, observed care, and reviewed two care plans, two recruitment files, policies and service audits.
Inspectors found people were treated kindly and respectfully. Staff knew people's needs well, supported independence and helped people take part in activities, employment, family visits and community life. The home had suitable safety, medication, infection control and training arrangements.
The overall rating and all five key question ratings were Good. Inspectors found some care and Mental Capacity Act records were not always complete or up to date. They also noted gaps in staffing during sickness and that some families wanted more regular communication.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw positive interactions and found that staff understood the people they supported well.
“People were supported in a kind and respectful way by their staff team.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's choices and needs. Staff adapted support and communication to each person.
“Detailed communication support plans were in place; they were personalised to the people the service supported.” from the report
Promoting independence
People were supported with employment, food shopping, meal preparation, activities and family visits.
“Each person had an outcome proforma which identified target goals and how to best support them to achieve these goals.” from the report
Trained staff
The home had a robust induction and completed mandatory training. Staff received regular supervision.
“There was a robust induction into the service and mandatory training was completed.” from the report
Mental Capacity Act records
needs fixingSome records did not clearly show that decisions for people lacking capacity were made in their best interests and in the least restrictive way. Inspectors recommended a review of these processes.
“records did not always reflect when a person was assessed as lacking capacity that decisions had been made in their best interest in the least restrictive way.” from the report
Care records not always updated
needs fixingOne person's medication list had not been updated after a change. The manager corrected this during the inspection.
“Care plans were not always updated following a change, we identified 1 person's list of medication had not been updated.” from the report
Staffing during sickness
needs fixingThere were gaps in staffing levels, particularly when staff were off sick. The home used staff from other services to keep a consistent team.
“There were gaps in staffing levels, particularly around sickness however, the service utilised staff from their other services to ensure there was a consistent staff team.” from the report
Family communication
minorA family member said they wanted more involvement in regular care plan reviews and more information about changes.
“Family members who were advocating on behalf of a person were not always updated regarding changes.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure Mental Capacity Act decisions are recorded as being in the person's best interests and least restrictive?
- 02How quickly are medication lists and care plans updated after a person's needs or medicines change?
- 03How do you cover shifts when staff are off sick, and will unfamiliar staff from other services be used?
- 04How will relatives be involved in regular care plan reviews and told about important changes?
This inspection covered all five key questions, including infection prevention and control, and reviewed care, premises, staffing, records and governance at the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 19 August 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.
Every inspection of The Cottage
2 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 April 2015.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Warrington
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. 90 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.