Care homes in Oxfordshire not CQC inspected for 9 years

Nearly 20 care homes in Oxfordshire have not been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) since 2020.

The situation is part of a wider issue across England, where more than half of care homes have not received a full inspection since 2020.

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Helen Wildbore, chief executive of Care Rights UK, said: “Where people are at risk of poor care, action plans should be in place and regularly monitored via re-inspection on a fixed timeline.”

The CQC typically aims to inspect care homes rated ‘outstanding’ at least once every two and a half years, while those rated ‘good’ should be inspected every two years.

Homes rated ‘requires improvement’ are supposed to be inspected within 12 months.

Among the Oxfordshire care homes last inspected in 2020 are Abingdon Court Care Home in Abingdon, the ‘outstanding’ Churchfields Care Home in Cassington, St Luke’s Hospital care home, and the OSJCT Marston Court care home in Marston.

Homes rated ‘good’ that have not been inspected since 2019 include Meadow View Nursing Home in Witney, Heathfield House Nursing Home and Gosford Lodge in Kidlington, Leafield Residential Care Home in Abingdon, Kirlena House in Kennington, OSJCT Isis House Care & Retirement Centre in Donnington, and Iffley Residential and Nursing Home in Iffley.

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Care homes that have not been inspected for more than eight years include Bridge House in Abingdon, Eden House Residential Home in Oxford, Oxford Respite Service in Headington, and Newland House in Witney.

In some cases, care homes have not been inspected for more than nine years, including Mon Choisy Care Home in Kennington, Merryfield House Nursing Home in Witney, and Brook House Residential Care Home.

Despite the ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ ratings, these care homes have not been assessed within the CQC’s recommended timeframes.

The regulator has also failed to re-inspect some homes rated ‘requires improvement’ within its 12-month target.

Cheney House and The Ridings in Banbury last received inspections in 2022, while OSJCT Longlands in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, and the Albany Care Home in Headington were last inspected in 2023.

Care Rights UK, which operates a national advice line, says it regularly hears from families distressed by unaddressed issues of poor care or neglect.

The organisation continues to call for more timely and consistent inspections to protect vulnerable residents.

The CQC inspects care homes on their safety, effectiveness, responsiveness, how caring the staff are, and how well-led the care home is.

A CQC spokesperson said: “We understand the concerns raised about inspection frequency and adult social care service ratings in Oxford

“CQC currently use a risk-based approach to inspections. This means striking a balance between responding to emerging risk, re-inspecting services with aged ratings and first time inspection for newly registered services.”