CQC report explained · a residential care home, run by Achieve Together

Arundel House - Frinton-on-Sea

34 Harold Road, Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 9BE

Goodpublished 20 June 2025, 14 months ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, September 2023

Arundel House - Frinton-on-Sea: Overall rating Inadequate and remains in special measures; inspectors found continuing problems with staffing, risk management, cleanliness and leadership.

This was an unannounced targeted inspection. Inspectors visited on 15 June and 12 July 2023, and checked staffing, risk management, infection control and governance. They spoke with people and staff, observed care and examined care and management records.

The home had not made enough improvement since the previous inspection. There were not enough suitably skilled staff, training and supervision were incomplete, and risk management and quality checks were not reliable. Some parts of the building were still dirty and unhygienic, and fire safety had not been fully assured.

There was one clear improvement. Inspectors found that medicines were being managed safely. The provider also put a sleep-in staff member in place at night after the inspection as an interim measure for fire evacuation.

The overall rating remained Inadequate and the home remained in special measures. The inspection did not reassess all five areas, so Safe and Well-led were marked inspected but not rated, while the previous inadequate overall rating carried forward.

What inspectors praised

Medicines
Medicines had improved since the previous inspection. Inspectors found that people received their medicines as they should.
“At this inspection we found medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as they should.” from the report
Some hygiene improvements
Some toilets, sinks, shower chairs and bed pans were cleaner. Handwashing supplies and protective equipment were available.
“All toilet and handwashing facilities had hand soap, paper towel and toilet roll in appropriate covered dispensers.” from the report
Interim night staffing
After the inspection, the provider added a sleep-in staff member at night to support evacuation while fire safety was reviewed.
“Following our inspection, the provider instated a sleep-in staff member at night to support safe evacuation procedures if needed.” from the report

What inspectors were concerned about

Incomplete staff training
serious
Training remained outstanding in areas linked to people's needs, including moving and handling, swallowing difficulties, Huntington's disease and mental health. Staff also lacked knowledge in person-centred support and communication.
“Training for staff remained outstanding in subjects relevant to people's specific needs such as moving and handling, dysphagia, Huntington's disease and mental health.” from the report
Poor infection control
serious
Some parts of the home remained dirty and unhygienic. The cleaning programme and audits did not reliably identify or correct problems.
“The staff toilet and laundry facilities remained in poor condition and a risk of infection.” from the report
Fire safety not assured
serious
The provider had not shown that recommendations from a 2021 fire risk assessment had been completed and maintained. Night staffing had previously been insufficient for evacuation.
“There was no evidence to demonstrate all recommendations had been completed and sustained to ensure fire safety” from the report
Weak leadership and checks
serious
There had been no registered manager since June 2022. Audits and daily checks did not give an accurate picture of risks or the quality of the service.
“The provider's governance system was not operated effectively and did not provide an accurate overview of the service or outcomes for people.” from the report
Limited person-centred support
needs fixing
Support plans did not clearly set out how to build independence, pursue goals or respond to distress. Inspectors observed an activity continuing even though a person showed they did not want to take part.
“People did not receive the right support to maximise their choice, control, and independence.” from the report

Questions to ask them, based on this report

01How many staff are on duty for each shift now, and how does this match each person's assessed and commissioned support hours?
02Which staff have completed practical refresher training in moving and handling, and how are their competencies checked?
03What has been done to complete and independently review all fire safety recommendations, including safe night-time evacuation?
04Which areas were still dirty or unhygienic at the inspection, and how will cleaning audits now prove that problems have been fixed?
05Who is currently responsible for day-to-day management, and how are weekly improvement actions checked and reported?

This was a targeted inspection of specific concerns about safe care, risk management, infection control, staffing and governance; it did not assess all areas, so the Safe and Well-led ratings were not changed and the previous overall rating carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 September 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Arundel House - Frinton-on-Sea

3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Inadequate.

September 2023Inspected but not ratedcurrent rating
Safe: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Arundel House - Frinton-on-Sea →
March 2023Inadequatedown from Good
Safe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk
June 2017Goodstayed Good
Safe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
March 2015Good
Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
September 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 September 2020.

Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission. A service can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections, not every contact the CQC has had with the service.

Another option

Or stay at home with a private carer

Many people who look at care homes end up staying at home with a carer who comes in for a few hours a day, or lives in. PrimeCarers introduces you to self-employed carers you choose yourself: interviewed, ID and DBS checked, from about £20 an hour or £1,120 a week live-in.

Canterbury, CT4

Good

Residential

Frinton-on-Sea, CO13 · 2.1 km

Requires improvement

NursingDementia

Rated 12 months agocare home

What inspectors found, September 2023

Medicines

Some hygiene improvements

Interim night staffing

Incomplete staff training

Poor infection control

Fire safety not assured

Weak leadership and checks

Limited person-centred support

Every inspection of Arundel House - Frinton-on-Sea

Or stay at home with a private carer

Other services run by Achieve Together Limited

Other care homes near Frinton-on-Sea