A REPORT which names two Tendring care homes as being some of "England's worst performing" has been the catalyst for calls to increase technology in residential homes.

Care Protect is calling on the care sector to make the most of new technology to drive quality standards after Hudgell Solicitors' claims of the 14 worst care homes in England, based on their 'inadequate' rating by the Care Quality Commission, were published nationally.

The company is advocating independent safety monitoring using sound and motion sensitive camera equipment, which would be triggered in instances of a knock or fall and give greater insight, if needed, to a resident's health.

Both the Oaks Residential Home in Great Bentley, and Meadow View in Jaywick, were used as a case in point.

However, Laura Sebborn, who took over as Oaks' manager in January, disagrees.

She said: "The use of cameras in homes is controversial as it indeed invades privacy of residents, their families and visitors.

"As yet, neither Essex County Council or the CQC have encouraged their use in care homes."

She added: "According to CQC data, over 30 per cent of all care homes are rated as inadequate or requiring improvement.

"The CQC has no systems in place to rank care homes that are inadequate, hence the methodology used for this ranking is not a recognisable one."

After a CQC inspection just weeks ago, the feedback was very positive, Laura explained, and inspectors have acknowledge improvements made at the home.

She said: "As a result of the many significant changes to personnel and many improvements in the service, the Quality Monitoring Team at Essex County Council acknowledged these improvements in April.

"Even before the inspection report was published, Essex County Council's contracts manager had written that the service met their standards."

Nikki Faber, of Meadow View, says she is working alongside both the county council and CQC which are both "really happy with us".

She added: "It was just paperwork that needed to change.

"We're doing everything we can for our service users because they are who we most care about."