CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Retreat
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm, and there were enough suitably trained staff. Medicines records reviewed were complete, but not all staff files contained full employment histories, including employment gaps.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed, personal and regularly updated. Staff were trained and supported, people were involved in menu planning, and their health needs were monitored.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were involved in decisions, supported to maintain relationships and encouraged to build independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's physical, social and emotional needs, communication methods and preferences. People were supported to take part in activities, visit the community and see family and friends.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers were visible and staff understood their roles. Audits, meetings and feedback were used to identify improvements and monitor the quality of care.
What inspectors found, March 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with one recruitment records shortfall.
The inspection visit took place on 03 February 2023 and was unannounced. One inspector and one Expert by Experience gathered information, spoke with relatives and staff, observed people, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home supported three people at the time, and could care for up to five people with a learning disability or autistic people. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines practice, detailed care plans, respectful support and meaningful activities.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating was Good. This means inspectors found the home was consistently meeting the standards they checked, although they identified a shortfall in some staff employment records.
Personalised care
People helped write and update their care plans. The plans recorded their choices, communication needs, life history and the support they wanted.
“Peoples care plans were person centred, very detailed, and regularly reviewed and updated as people's needs and wants changed.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors found that staff knew people well, respected their choices and supported their privacy, dignity and independence.
“People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff knew people well and had time to sit and have conversations with people.” from the report
Choice and activities
People were supported to choose activities, use local community facilities, see relatives and take part in food planning and shopping.
“The service supported people to lead enriching lives of their choosing. People were supported to regularly access the community around them.” from the report
Responsive management
Relatives said the home listened to suggestions and made changes, including improvements to the garden.
“We did mention the home had a small garden, [person] has a lot of energy, we asked if the garden could be made longer and they did it.” from the report
Incomplete employment histories
needs fixingSome staff files did not contain full employment histories or details of gaps in employment. The provider said these details would be obtained retrospectively.
“Not all staff files reviewed contained staff's full employment history, including details of any gaps in employment.” from the report
Garden improvements were still underway
minorThe garden was being landscaped after concerns about access and suitability. Raised beds and better access to seating were being installed.
“The garden was in the process of being landscaped.” from the report
- 01Have all staff employment histories, including any gaps, now been added to the staff files?
- 02What changes were made to the garden, and can residents use the seating and raised beds safely?
- 03How will my relative be involved in writing and reviewing their care plan?
- 04How are activities and community visits chosen and adapted when a person's preferences change?
- 05How can relatives raise concerns, and how will the home show what action it has taken?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC key questions, including infection prevention and control; the report says the ratings remained Good compared with the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 March 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 Retreat
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- March 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2016InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- February 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 February 2020.
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.