Care home "requires improvement" in every area

[MyLittlePonyWellies]

I'm job hunting ATM and a receptionist role has come up in a local care home.

I was about to apply and was looking at the website and saw their Ofsted(?) report was linked, so had a look and it's quite bad.

It was assessed less than a year ago, so I'm a bit put off by this, as it makes me think it will be a bad place to work and very distressing if I see people there who aren't having their needs met.

How indicative are Ofsted reports of the way a care home really is though? I've worked in a good school before which I absolutely hated working in and have volunteered in requires improvement schools which I've loved so wondering if it's similar in care homes?

If anyone has experience of working in or dealing with care homes and can advise, I would be v grateful

Bump

Honestly if you need a job I would go for it and if it is bad then leave. Its hard to know but often after a poor inspection a new manager comes in and it improves.

It also depends on what the issues were. My dad's care home never got great scores but his care was amazing. I think a combination of being a bit scruffy and alot of staff who had been there many years and were perhaps too good at 'saying the right thing'

That's good to hear that your dad's careers good despite not great scores.

I might apply then. It looks like a lovely care home in pictures on the website

Care was*

The part relevant in the CQC report for you will be about management and culture. If they are doing alright there then I'd apply

Ok thanks @Burntoutcandle, that's useful.

They were "requires improvement" in all five areas, but I'll need to look back at the full report and check that part.

Care homes aren't inspected by Ofsted! It's CQC who inspect care homes!

Can you ask around and find out more about the recent history of the home? I worked in a care home that had a similar rating: "requires improvement" in most areas. It was because it had recently changed from being privately owned to a corporate ownership & several of the staff left as the changes weren't to their taste. As pp mentioned, a new Manager came and new staff were appointed - including a new receptionist who was brilliant & stayed many years - and things started looking up.

Ok! That's why I put the question mark!

So sorry

Thanks @cheapskatemum, that sounds similar to the one I want to apply for. There is mention in the report about a new manager.

Well they're not going to have photos of mouldy food and residents with bruises all over are they! Of COURSE the photos look lovely.

If you search for their name and CQC then you’ll be able to access the current and all previous reports, which will give you an idea of if the issues are long standing.

This page compares ratings cross all types of adult social care providers. They will be rated as ‘Requirements Improvement’ overall, which is the same as around 15% of all ASC providers (that will include things like domiciliary care as well as nursing and residential homes)

www.cqc.org.uk/publication/state-care-202122/appendix

Indeed @titchy

Thank you @Overrunwithlego. I'll do that.

I just wouldn't want to work somewhere where they didn't look after their residents. There are so many awful stories about poor care in residential homes. And this scored badly for responding to residents and not monitoring hydration properly etc. Mixed feedback from families. It's made me wary.

I may apply anyway and then if I actually get an interview and go there I could get an idea of the place.

If you worked there, you could be instrumental in helping it become better.

You could always get someone you trust to visit the home as a prospective relative and give you their impression. Dont make an appointment. I used to say that my sister had rung and whoever she'd spoken to said I could just pop in when passing. That way I could just play ignorant when they started asking me who or any details. Your friend could then ask questions about mgt, plans to improve etc. You might be a bit forearmed then at your interview. Or you might even decide not to bother completely.

If you worked there, you could be instrumental in helping it become better.

That's such a nice way of looking at it 😊

My friend is in a care home that has bad CQC rating. But i absolutely can't fault the cate he gets. Ok. The building is tired and could do with refurbishing. But he's very well cared for. I always wonder if some of the very posh homes are all fur coat and no knickers.

Thanks all - I'm doing my application as we speak! Won't hear back now after all the umming and ah-ing 😄