CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Vale Residential Care Home
Rated Inadequate: inspectors found the home performing badly and the CQC has taken enforcement action.
What inspectors found, February 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 11 January 2018. Inspectors observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and commissioners, and checked care plans, medicine records, staff files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, received medicines safely, and had enough suitably trained staff.
People were supported with food, drinks, healthcare, activities and care that reflected their wishes. Inspectors saw kind and respectful interactions, and found that complaints, feedback and quality checks were handled through established systems.
The home was rated Good at its previous inspection and remained Good at this inspection.
People felt safe
Everyone spoken to by inspectors said they felt safe. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse, and individual risks were assessed and reviewed.
“Every person we spoke with told us they felt safe with the staff supporting them at The Vale.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Staff were trained and checked for competence, and regular audits were completed.
“People continued to receive their medicines safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with patience, empathy, privacy and dignity. People and families were involved in planning care.
“People told us the staff were kind and caring, and observations showed that staff were patient and showed empathy when speaking with people.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans described people's needs, preferences and communication styles. Staff knew how people liked to be supported and offered activities suited to their interests.
“People received consistent support which was personalised to their individual needs.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager and provider used audits, surveys, meetings and action plans to check safety and quality. Feedback had led to changes to the menu and evening drinks.
“Feedback from the audits were used to make changes and improve the service provided to people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's risks if their mobility, skin, eating or drinking needs change?
- 02How will you support my relative's preferred food, drinks and any special dietary needs?
- 03How will you involve my relative and our family in care plan reviews and best-interest decisions?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative's interests and abilities?
- 05Who is currently responsible for managing the home, and what was the outcome of the manager's CQC registration application?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering the overall service and all five CQC questions; the home remained Good in every area and had also been rated Good at the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 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 Vale Residential Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at The Vale Residential Care Home →
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 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.
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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.