Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd
- Home care
- Dementia care
- Registered since 2017
- Central Southend-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, East of England
Requires improvement
Rated on
Rating from the Care Quality Commission.
At a glance
4 ratings
First rated Good in 2018, most recently Requires improvement in October 2026.
This month
The latest rating was published.
5 of 40
rated home care services in Southend-on-Sea are rated Requires improvement, like this one.
Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd: inspection record
Rated Requires improvement in October 2026.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||||||||||
| Safe | ||||||||||||
| Effective | ||||||||||||
| Caring | ||||||||||||
| Responsive | ||||||||||||
| Well-led |
Ratings published by the Care Quality Commission.
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: Top Option Healthcare Limited (Good, 0.1 miles away) and Sister Dorothy Healthcare (Good, 0.2 miles away).
Nearest home care services:
- – D&S Home Care and Supported Living Not yet rated, 0.1 miles away
- G Top Option Healthcare Limited Good, 0.1 miles away
- G Sister Dorothy Healthcare Good, 0.2 miles away
- RI Choices Healthcare Limited Requires improvement, 0.2 miles away
- – Alpha Health & Care Services Limited No overall rating, 0.4 miles away
What inspectors found
From the Care Quality Commission's assessment published 16 October 2026 (assessment visit 21 July 2026). Quoted under the Open Government Licence.
Date of assessment: 11 August 2026 to 27 August 2026.
Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to adults living in their own homes. At the time of our assessment, 58 people were receiving personal care. The service supported people with a range of needs, including complex health conditions.
- Safe No rating
- Effective No rating
- Caring Good
- Responsive Good
- Well-led No rating
Read the rest of CQC's summary
Care records did not always provide staff with sufficient guidance to meet people's needs safely and consistently. Specialist advice was not always reflected in care plans and medicines records contained inaccuracies and inconsistencies. People and relatives described occasions when care visits were undertaken by carers who were not regularly involved in providing support. These staff were sometimes less familiar with people's routines, preferences and support needs, which affected the consistency of care.
Governance systems had not effectively identified or addressed concerns relating to care records, risk assessments, consent documentation, workforce records and outcome monitoring. As a result, leaders could not be assured risks were consistently identified, monitored and mitigated, or that people always received safe care. We have asked the provider to submit an action plan addressing the concerns identified.
We identified 4 breaches of regulation relating to medicines management, safe care and treatment, consent to care, staffing and good governance.
However, people and relatives were generally positive about the care they received and described regular staff as kind, compassionate and respectful. People were involved in decisions about their care, supported to maintain their independence and treated with dignity. The service demonstrated elements of Right Care, Right Support and Right Culture through a person-centred approach that promoted choice, inclusion and independence. Staff worked effectively with health and social care professionals to support people's wellbeing, and leaders were visible and committed to improvement.
Overall, people experienced caring and responsive support. However, improvements were required in governance, workforce assurance and leadership oversight to ensure people consistently received safe, effective and high-quality care.
In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward.
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Safe
No rating
Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. At our last assessment we rated this key question Requires Improvement. At this assessment the rating has remained Requires Improvement. This meant some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There was an increased risk that people could be harmed.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation people’s safe care and treatment, the ways people’s medicines were managed and safe and effective staffing.
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Effective
No rating
Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.
At our last assessment we rated this key question Good. At this assessment the rating has changed to Requires Improvement. This meant the effectiveness of people’s care, treatment and support did not always achieve good outcomes or was inconsistent.The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation people giving their consent to receive care and support.
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Caring
Good
Caring – this means we looked for evidence that the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
At our last assessment we rated this key question Good. At this assessment the rating has remained Good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.
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Responsive
Good
Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.
At our last assessment we rated this key question Good. At this assessment the rating has remained Good. This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.
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Well-led
No rating
Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.
At our last assessment we rated this key question Requires Improvement. At this assessment the rating has remained Requires Improvement. This meant the management and leadership was inconsistent. Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to governance at the service.
Questions to ask the service
- Safe was rated Requires improvement on 16 October 2026. Ask how medicines are managed, how staffing levels are decided and how incidents are reviewed.
- Effective was rated Requires improvement on 16 October 2026. Ask about staff training and how health appointments are arranged.
- Well-led was rated Requires improvement on 16 October 2026. Ask about changes in management and what has changed since the report.
Registration details
- Registered manager
- Joanne White
- Registered with the CQC since
- What it provides
- Domiciliary care service
- Who it supports
- Dementia, Learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, Mental Health, Older People, People who misuse drugs and alcohol, People with an eating disorder, Physical Disability, Sensory Impairment, Younger Adults
Inspection report
Read the full inspection report (opens the Care Quality Commission website)3 inspection reports, latest 18 January 2024. Latest assessment published 16 October 2026; the Care Quality Commission's newer assessments are published on its website rather than as reports.
The rating is the Care Quality Commission's. We show it as published and do not change it.
Who runs it
- Provider
- Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd
- Ownership type
- Organisation
- Companies House number
- 9197809 (opens Companies House)
Getting help from Southend-on-Sea City Council
The council can assess what care someone needs and tell them what help with the cost they may get.
- Adult social care at Southend-on-Sea City Council
- Ask for a care needs assessment
- Phone: 01702 215008 (choose option 5, then option 1)
- Support for carers
- Paying for care: Southend-on-Sea City Council
Checked on the council's website, November 2026.
Common questions
- Does Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd provide nursing care?
- The Care Quality Commission's register does not list nursing care for Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd.
- When was Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd last inspected?
- The Care Quality Commission's latest rating for Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd was published on 16 October 2026.
- Who runs Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd?
- Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd is run by Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd.
- What is Golden Keys Care Agency Ltd's CQC rating?
- Its overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is Requires improvement, published on 16 October 2026.
Contact
- Phone
- 01702 617766
- Address
- Unit 1, 377 Southchurch Road, Southend On Sea, SS1 2PQ Map (opens Google Maps)
Compare nearby
Nearest rated Good or Outstanding: Top Option Healthcare Limited (Good, 0.1 miles away) and Sister Dorothy Healthcare (Good, 0.2 miles away).
Nearest home care services:
- – D&S Home Care and Supported Living Not yet rated, 0.1 miles away
- G Top Option Healthcare Limited Good, 0.1 miles away
- G Sister Dorothy Healthcare Good, 0.2 miles away
- RI Choices Healthcare Limited Requires improvement, 0.2 miles away
- – Alpha Health & Care Services Limited No overall rating, 0.4 miles away