Yet Another Care Home Rated 'Inadequate'.

henetha please remember that only negative news seems to fixated on by the media. Why not be proactive and go and visit a few in your area? See what you think. Maybe try a respite visit? If you do need a care home eventually, make it a positive choice rather than wait for a crisis and admission to anywhere that has a vacancy.

My dad went into a delightful home for quite a while. It wasn't large 6 rooms? [I can't remember] and food was cooked properly on the premises with a cheery cook. Well behave pets were allowed too. Each resident had their own room and dad's looked out onto green space. He was happy there until the owner was told by the powers that be that they'd have to close down because the doors were just a tad small - even though they were safe in my book and the home had been in use for many years. Dad had only one other place to go and from then on he went down hill. It was very sad.

I'm getting to the age where a care home is definitely on the horizon. But I dread the thought as I read so many negative things about them. Also there is a distinct lack of vacancies in them anyway as so many have closed down.

I work in a care home and our rating is good. I’ve worked there for nearly seven years.
We have not seen a CQC representative since before Covid 🤷‍♀️

When I have spoken to any questioning always on my own

Understandable though windmill. Anyone under scrutiny is going to feel awkward.
I used to carry out inspections of specialist care homes as part of a team and it was always possible to look beyond the obvious.

My brief (thank God) stay in a care home coincided with a visit by the CQC representative. It was sign-posted some days previously so all was furiously spruced up and tidied away.

The matron/manager steadfastly accompanied the inspector and social worker who tripped from inmate to inmate asking for opinions. The look on the manager's face conveyed the unmistakeable warning "Be careful what you say......"

My uncle has just moved in to a care home by choice. It's amazing! I'm just sorry it's so far from us (but near his immediate family). It even beats the home I volunteer at which is saying a lot! NB both these places have very high scores from accreditation orgs.

Unfortunately I think it was ever thus windmill. Institutions of any kind need enforced standards and constant monitoring to ensure they maintain high standards - hospital, prisons and schools come to mind too.

I think we need to see this in proportion. There are nearly 17,000 care home sin the UK and it is inevitable that when they are rated, some will be found waiting.

This does not mean failing homes are acceptable. they aren't, but at least they are being identified and be closed own or told to improve under threat of closure and we must remember the many, many more who are providing good and excellent care.

Of course we only hear about the bad news. No news programme is going to highlight 'terrific care homes' full of happy people and with good caring staff.

In my experience of the CQC they never really see what goes on normally.
I worked on a busy Delivery Suite. We had a Glory Corner where odds and ends were put and left. We always knew when someone important or the CQC were due because it got cleared out, skirting boards washed and a fresh lick of paint. An easy chair and a small table with magazines and a potted plant appeared but soon disappeared when the visit was over.
The CQC need to turn up UNANNOUNCED in order to see what really goes on. As it is they arrange a date to visit and then it's all hands to the pumps, to repair, clean and present everything as running like clockwork when in reality it is anything but.
Until the CQC changes then nothing else will.

How many rated inadequate this year ?