CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Valentine House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found personalised risk assessments, enough staff, regular safety checks and safe medicines systems. Staffing levels were reviewed when people's needs changed.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff received training, supervision and appraisals. People's nutritional, health and communication needs were supported, and the home worked with health and social care professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff supported people to make choices and remain as independent as possible.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly personalised and regularly reviewed. Staff supported people with relationships, activities, personal goals and preferred end of life arrangements.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open culture, visible management and effective quality checks. People, relatives and staff were asked for their views, and the provider acted on issues identified.
What inspectors found, May 2019
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding responsiveness and inspectors finding kind, personalised care and strong management.
This was an unannounced inspection on 13 March 2019. One inspector and an expert by experience spoke with people living at the home, relatives, visiting healthcare professionals and staff. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, staff files, complaints and management records.
The home was rated Good for being safe, effective, caring and well-led. It was rated Outstanding for being responsive. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable training, good links with health professionals and care that respected people's dignity and independence.
Inspectors particularly praised the personalised care and support. Care plans were regularly reviewed, activities were adapted to people's interests, and staff supported people to maintain relationships and achieve personal goals. The overall rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published on 16 June 2016.
Personalised care
Care was shaped around people's needs, preferences, histories and goals. Staff helped people become more active, socialise and take part in important events.
“People received personalised care which was individually tailored to meet their needs and enhance their lives.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors observed compassionate care, and people and relatives spoke positively about staff. Privacy, dignity and independence were treated as important.
“Staff continued to support people and treat them with respect, compassion and kindness.” from the report
Strong response to individual needs
The home supported activities, family relationships and end of life choices in flexible ways. Staff also used individual calming strategies for people experiencing anxiety or agitation.
“Services were tailored to meet the needs of individuals and delivered to ensure flexibility, choice and continuity of care.” from the report
Safe systems
Inspectors found enough staff, personalised risk assessments, regular environmental checks and medicines audits. Staff were trained and understood how to report abuse.
“The service had effective systems in place to ensure people continued to receive their medicines safely and in-line with good practice.” from the report
Effective management
The manager and provider had oversight of the home through regular audits and visits. Relatives, staff and healthcare professionals spoke positively about the way it was run.
“The provider had significant oversight of the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are care plans reviewed when a person's needs or preferences change?
- 02How would you support my relative to maintain family relationships and take part in activities they enjoy?
- 03What staffing arrangements are in place at the times my relative is most likely to need help?
- 04How do you support people with mobility, eating or communication needs, including any specialist equipment?
- 05How would you follow my relative's wishes about hospital care and end of life support?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that looked at all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the home itself. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 May 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 Valentine House
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 December 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.
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.