The CQC, also known as the Care Quality Commission, inspects and regulates health and social care in England.

The CQC rates services according to how safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led they are.

Health and social care settings are rated as ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires improvement’ and ‘inadequate’.

Here is why these care homes have been rated as ‘requires improvement’:

Vale House

The latest inspection took place on January 15 2021.

The inspection found the care home was rated as ‘requires improvement’ overall but it had ‘good’ ratings in a number of areas.

The inspection found: “Electronic records seen for two people who had been prescribed creams did not provide clear evidence that these creams had been applied. Staff told us they regularly applied creams in line with people's prescriptions.

“However, staff gave different examples on how the administration of prescribed creams should be recorded within people's care records. Therefore, systems to record the application of prescribed creams and ensure the provider had oversight of these applications were not effective.”

It added that ‘relatives told us they felt people were safe living at the service’.

John Masefield House

The latest inspection took place on February 4 2021.

It found that all areas of the home were rated as ‘requires improvement’.

The inspection found that ‘there were sufficient staff to meet people's needs. Staff did not appear rushed and people's requests for support were responded to in a timely manner.’

It added that ‘people felt safe’.

One person said: "I do feel safe and my care needs are met."

However, despite many improvements listed in the inspection, the report stated: “We could not improve the rating for safe from inadequate to good because to do so requires consistent good practice over time.”

Meylan House

The latest inspection took place on March 31 2021.

The inspection found most areas were rated as ‘requires improvement’ however being both ‘responsive’ and ‘effective’ were rated as ‘good’.

The report said: “Some staff did not have prior experience working in social care and we found the induction and training programme did not always reflect this. This meant the training provided did not fully ensure staff felt skilled and confident to support people with behaviours that could challenge.”

It added: “People were not always effectively supported when their behaviour challenged and presented a risk to themselves or others. Although people's positive behaviour support plans (PBSP) were detailed, during the inspection we found the guidance in these were not always adhered to.”

Wantage Nursing Home

The latest inspection was on April 24 2019.

It found that most areas were rated as ‘requires improvement’ but being both ‘caring’ and ‘responsive’ were rated as ‘good’.

The report said: “The medicines management was not based on current best practice.”

However, the inspection did note that people said they felt safe.

One person said: "Yes, I am safe here, all the time".

A relative also said: "Absolutely safe, in every way".

St Katharine’s House

The most recent inspection for this site was on May 30 2019.

The inspection found most areas were rated as ‘requires improvement’ but being ‘caring’ and ‘effective’ were rated as ‘good’.

The report noted that the ‘last rating for this service was inadequate (published 18 December 2018) and there were two breaches of regulation’.

It added that the ‘CQC took enforcement action to ensure the provider took action to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.’

The inspection found ‘staff were kind and compassionate’ and ‘people’s dignity and privacy were respected, and their rights upheld’.

Enstone House

The last inspection was on May 11 2021.

The inspection rated the site as ‘requires improvement’ overall but did note that being ‘safe’, ‘caring’ and ‘responsive’ was rated as ‘good’.

The report noted many governance systems had be introduced since the last inspection but ‘these systems needed embedding and to ensure they were fully effective’.

It added: “People's individual needs including people's faith were assessed and recorded.”

A staff member also said: "The team is open to diversity."