CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Firs
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective safeguarding, risk assessments, emergency plans, safe medicine arrangements and enough staff with the right skills.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and support. People had access to food choices and healthcare professionals, and the home was working within the Mental Capacity Act.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with dignity and respect. They understood individual communication methods and supported people to make choices and stay in touch with family.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were person-centred and detailed. People could take part in activities, use the community and raise concerns through a clear complaints procedure.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The provider and manager were visible and supported staff. Audits, meetings and surveys were used to monitor and improve the service.
What inspectors found, February 2018
The Firs rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a new manager still completing registration.
This was an unannounced inspection on 4 January 2018 by two inspectors. They reviewed safeguarding information, care records, medicines records, staff files, training, complaints and quality checks. They also observed care and spoke with staff, the manager, the provider, relatives and professionals.
The home supports eight people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicine systems and effective risk management. People were supported to make choices, stay in contact with family, use community facilities and see health professionals when needed.
Staff were described as kind and respectful. Care plans gave detailed, individual guidance. The home had activities, accessible outdoor space and ways for people to communicate and make decisions as independently as possible.
The overall rating was Good. Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good, and all five ratings remained Good since the previous inspection.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's care, social and leisure needs. Medicines were stored, administered and checked safely.
“There were sufficient numbers of care staff on shift with the correct skills and knowledge to keep people safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew how people communicated and treated them with dignity. People were observed to be relaxed and happy with staff.
“Staff were caring towards people and treated them with dignity and respect this was evident in our observations.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's needs, communication and choices in detail. Staff supported independence, including through adapted equipment and communication aids.
“They were person centred and gave detailed guidance for staff so they could consistently deliver the care and support people needed.” from the report
Activities and family contact
People were supported to take part in preferred activities, visit community venues and keep in contact with relatives.
“Community activities included attending preferred clubs as well as bowling, shopping and out for coffee.” from the report
Open management
Staff said they were listened to and supported by the provider and manager. The home used audits, meetings and surveys to monitor quality.
“A range of audits were carried out to monitor the quality of the service.” from the report
Manager registration was not complete
minorA new manager was in post but was still being registered with the CQC when inspectors visited. Families may want to check whether this has since been completed.
“There was a manager in place who was in the process of being registered by the commission.” from the report
Some DoLS assessments were being chased
needs fixingThe new manager was contacting the relevant agencies to check whether some applications had been authorised. Inspectors still found people were being supported appropriately.
“The new manager was in the process of contacting the relevant agencies to chase up an assessment to ascertain if they had been authorised.” from the report
- 01Has the manager's CQC registration now been completed?
- 02What was the outcome of the outstanding DoLS applications and assessments?
- 03How will you support my relative's preferred way of communicating and making choices?
- 04Which activities and community outings could my relative take part in?
- 05How would you involve our family in care reviews, health appointments and end of life planning?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the care, accommodation and management of the home; the report also refers families to the previous 2015 report for more detail. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 February 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 The Firs
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 January 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.
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
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.