Care home no longer in special measures, says CQC

A care home has been taken out of special measures after a recent watchdog inspection.

Elmcroft Care Home near Maldon, Essex, was previously rated as inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following an inspection in November and December 2024.

The regulator rated the home as good following its most recent visit, which took place between 17 December 2025 and 8 January.

Hazel Roberts, the CQC deputy director of adult social care in the East of England, said: "When we returned to Elmcroft Care Home, we were pleased to find significant improvements had been made across the service."

At the time of the inspection, 18 people were living at the home in Tolleshunt Major, which specialises in caring for residents with dementia and physical disabilities.

Roberts added: "The home had a positive and welcoming environment.

"People felt safe, respected and well-supported by a consistent staff team who knew them well."

During the visit, relatives of residents had told inspectors that they had no concerns over people's safety.

Staff had also been praised for their "kind, caring and compassionate attitude".

In previous reports, concerns had been raised that people were not always supported to make "informed decisions" about care at the "end of their life".

After the recent inspection, CQC raised the home's overall rating from inadequate to good, as well praising it for being effective, responsive and well-led.

The report said that the service was generally clean and hygienic and there was ongoing refurbishment work to further improve the environment.

"Staff had received infection prevention and control training and we observed staff wearing appropriate personal protective equipment when required," it reported.

The report said that inspectors found radiators were "very hot" and "posed potential burns risk" and a trailing extension cable in the dining room posed a potential trip hazard.

The report added that the managers responded immediately during the site visit and arranged for maintenance work for the radiators and the removal of the cable.

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