CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Orchards
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and improper treatment. They also found suitable safeguarding, recruitment and infection control arrangements, but they did not review the whole Safe question.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during this targeted inspection, although inspectors observed personalised support and people said they were happy.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed during this targeted inspection, although support plans were described as person-centred and aimed at building independence.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found a positive culture, clearer management oversight and systems for sharing learning. They did not review the whole Well-led question.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found people were happy and systems had been strengthened after concerns about safeguarding and culture.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 16 February 2021. It followed concerns about safeguarding and whether learning from an incident at another service had been shared across the organisation.
Inspectors found systems for sharing learning had been put in place. Staff received briefings, guidance, supervision and training. There were also systems for staff to raise concerns and additional checks by managers.
People told inspectors they were happy living at the home. Inspectors found personalised support, encouragement to be independent and a positive culture. Infection prevention arrangements were also found to be suitable.
The home was inspected but not rated. The previous ratings, including Good for Safe and Well-led from July 2019, were not changed because this visit only looked at specific parts of those areas.
People felt happy
People told inspectors they were happy living at the home. They appeared relaxed with staff and others.
“People were positive about their experiences at the service and told us they were happy living there.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff supported people according to their wishes and helped them build confidence and independence.
“Staff promoted people's independence and care was personalised to each individual person's needs.” from the report
Safeguarding arrangements
The home had ways for people and staff to raise concerns. Inspectors found that concerns were referred and investigated when needed.
“People were protected from abuse and improper treatment.” from the report
Positive culture
Inspectors found that staff spoke positively about the people they supported. People had choices about activities, key workers and aspects of daily life.
“There was a positive culture at the service.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured about arrangements including PPE, testing, social distancing, hygiene and managing possible outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspection followed safeguarding and culture concerns
needs fixingThe inspection was prompted by concerns that learning from an incident at another location might not have been shared or acted on across the organisation. Inspectors found new arrangements in place, but this visit did not provide a full assessment of the home.
“We received information of concern that the provider may not have shared information or taken action across the organisation following a specific incident at another location.” from the report
- 01What changes were made to ensure learning from incidents elsewhere is shared with staff here?
- 02How can residents and staff use the whistleblowing and Freedom to Speak Up arrangements?
- 03What extra training and support have staff received about closed cultures and safeguarding?
- 04How are the management audits and monitoring checks used to identify and fix problems?
- 05When will the next comprehensive inspection take place, covering all five key questions?
This was a targeted inspection of specific concerns within Safe and Well-led, with infection control also reviewed; all key questions will be assessed at the next comprehensive inspection and the previous ratings were not changed. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 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.
What inspectors found, July 2019
The Orchards was rated Good; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, with some medicines records needing improvement.
The inspection took place on 14, 22 and 23 May 2019. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, staff, a relative and outside professionals. They observed care and checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training records, complaints and quality checks.
The home supported four people with learning disabilities, although it could support up to five. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe recruitment, clean surroundings and safe medicines administration. They also found that people were treated kindly, involved in decisions and supported to build independence, maintain relationships and take part in activities.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home had no registered manager at the time, but a team leader was overseeing day-to-day care and a senior manager had applied to become registered manager. The overall rating remained Good, the same as at the previous inspection published on 24 November 2016.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors found that staff knew people well and treated them with kindness, compassion, privacy and respect.
“People were cared for by staff who knew them well and were kind and compassionate.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were encouraged to make decisions, develop skills and have control over their daily lives. They took part in activities such as cooking, laundry and gardening.
“People could be independent and develop life skills.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People were supported to follow their interests, visit places in the community and maintain important relationships.
“People accessed the community regularly, went on short breaks and were supported to take part in things that interested them.” from the report
Staffing and safeguarding
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's individual needs. Staff understood safeguarding and risks, and incidents were reviewed to reduce the chance of problems happening again.
“Staff were trained in safeguarding procedures and knew how to recognise and protect people from the risk of abuse.” from the report
Medicine stock records
needs fixingThe balance of medicines in stock was not always recorded on the latest medicine record. This made it harder to check that stock counts were correct.
“The balance of medicines in stock was not always recorded on the most recent medication record making it difficult for this check to be completed.” from the report
As-required medicine instructions
needs fixingInstructions for some as-required medicines did not clearly record the amount to give and how often it could be given. The team leader said these instructions would be updated.
“These required updating to ensure the amount to be given and the frequency of administration was recorded.” from the report
No registered manager
minorThere was no manager registered with CQC during the inspection. A senior manager had applied to become registered manager, while a team leader oversaw the home day to day.
“The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to record medicine stock balances every time?
- 02Have the instructions for as-required medicines been updated to state the dose and how often they can be given?
- 03Who is responsible for the home while there is no registered manager, and what is the progress of the registration application?
- 04How are people involved in choosing activities, meals and goals, and how are their views recorded?
- 05How do you make sure each person's communication device or other communication support is available and working?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, the care provided and the premises; it followed the previous Good rating published on 24 November 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 July 2019 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 Orchards
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 November 2012.
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.
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