CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Abbeyfield Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home had suitable infection prevention and control arrangements. This included PPE, testing, social distancing, cleanliness, visitor safety and outbreak planning.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, September 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about the home's infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors visited on 11 August 2020. This was an announced, targeted inspection about infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found good practice in the home's plans for a possible second rise in infections, its easy-read safety guidance and its arrangements for admitting new people safely.
The inspectors were assured about visitors, social distancing, shielding, personal protective equipment, testing, cleanliness and managing possible outbreaks.
The home was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other areas of care.
Planning for infections
The provider had updated its business continuity plan to include the risk of a second rise in COVID-19 infections and support for individual homes.
“The provider had changed their business continuity plan to include managing risks of a second spike in COVID-19 infections.” from the report
Accessible safety guidance
People using the service had up-to-date information about staying safe during the pandemic. It was available in an easy-read format suited to individual communication needs.
“The provider had up to date guidance for people using the service on how to keep safe during the pandemic.” from the report
Infection control measures
Inspectors were assured about the home's arrangements for PPE, testing, hygiene, social distancing and preventing or managing outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection in August 2020?
- 02How do you currently manage visits and protect people from catching or spreading infections?
- 03How do you explain safety guidance to people who need easy-read or other communication support?
- 04What is your current procedure for admitting someone new, including pre-admission visits?
- 05How do you arrange testing, provide PPE and manage a possible infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures during the coronavirus pandemic; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 September 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, October 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with activity plans needing an update.
This was an unannounced inspection on 3 and 5 July 2017. One inspector visited the home, spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and observed care, meals, activities and medicines. The inspector also checked care records, medicine records, staff files, rotas and the home's quality checks.
The home supported up to 13 people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health diagnoses. There were 11 people living there at the time. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient and medicines were managed safely.
Inspectors found staff had suitable training and supported people to make choices. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Care was personalised and the management team used feedback and checks to improve the service. All five areas inspected were rated Good.
People were kept safe
Staff understood safeguarding and people's individual risks. Inspectors found that staffing levels and medicines arrangements supported safe care.
“People were protected from abuse and the risk of avoidable harm because staff understood their role and responsibility to keep vulnerable people safe.” from the report
Skilled and supported staff
Staff received induction, regular training, supervision and development support. Training also covered the specific needs of people living at the home.
“People were supported by staff who had the necessary skills and knowledge to meet their needs.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's routines, preferences, health needs and goals. People were involved in planning their care and were supported to maintain relationships.
“People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs.” from the report
Active management
The management team sought views from people, relatives and staff. It used complaints, meetings and quality checks to identify improvements.
“The registered manager effectively operated quality assurance and governance systems to drive continuous improvement in the service.” from the report
Activity plans were not fully up to date
needs fixingThe activities coordinator said that people's activity planners had not been updated recently because of unexpected staff absence. They were being reviewed during the inspection.
“However the activities coordinator told us they had not updated them recently due to covering for unforeseen absence on shifts.” from the report
- 01Have all activity planners now been reviewed and updated, and how do you make sure activities continue when staff are absent?
- 02How do you review staffing levels when a person's needs change, including during the night?
- 03How often are staff checked as competent to give medicines, and how are medicine errors or near misses reviewed?
- 04How will my relative be involved in creating and reviewing their care plan and personal goals?
- 05How can my relative and our family raise a concern or complaint, and how will we be told what action was taken?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led; it was the first inspection since the current provider began supporting people at the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 October 2017 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
Every inspection of Abbeyfield Lodge
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- September 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 October 2016.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.