CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Alistre Lodge Nursing & Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, clean surroundings and support for visiting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 3 March 2022. Inspectors gave the home 24 hours' notice and looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and any COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home used protective equipment safely, arranged testing, kept its infection control policy up to date and managed visitors safely. They found the home clean and hygienic, with extra cleaning of frequently touched areas.
People were supported to keep in touch with relatives through visits, phone calls, video calls and other arrangements. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control training
Staff had received training to keep their infection prevention and control knowledge up to date.
“Staff had received training to help ensure their knowledge on infection prevention and control was up to date.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules and extra arrangements were used for frequently touched surfaces.
“Cleaning schedules were in place with additional cleaning protocols to ensure all high touch points were regularly sanitised.” from the report
Protective equipment and testing
PPE and hand gel were available throughout the home. People living there and staff were tested regularly for COVID-19.
“People living in the home and the staff were tested regularly for COVID-19.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home supported face-to-face visits and other contact, including video, telephone and internet messaging. Essential care giver visits were individually risk assessed.
“People were supported to maintain contact with those who were important to them, in line with current government guidance.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing staffing pressures now, and what happens if COVID-19 affects staffing?
- 02What infection prevention and control training do staff currently receive?
- 03How do you check that PPE, cleaning products and hand gel remain available?
- 04How are visits arranged now, and are visits still risk assessed for individual circumstances?
- 05How often are people living here and staff tested for infections?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 March 2022 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, February 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-managed care, with some mixed views about food and activities.
This was an unannounced inspection on 14 January 2020. Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience spoke with eight people, two relatives and 11 staff. They observed care, looked around the home and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, received their medicines safely and had enough staff supporting them. Care was planned around people's needs, choices and communication.
People and relatives described kind and respectful care. The home worked with health professionals and responded to complaints appropriately. The rating was unchanged from the previous Good rating, published in July 2017.
Safe care and medicines
Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, enough staff and safe recruitment checks. Medicines systems were described as robust and well organised.
“Medicines administration systems were robust and well organised.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People were comfortable with staff and were involved in conversations and daily choices. Staff supported privacy, dignity and independence.
“People were supported by caring and respectful staff.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and preferences. Care plans were based on assessments and were reviewed when people's needs changed.
“Staff knew people's likes, dislikes and preferences and used this information to care for people in the way they wanted.” from the report
Good healthcare support
The home worked with GPs and community health professionals. Staff could accompany people to hospital appointments when needed.
“The registered manager worked effectively with healthcare professionals to ensure people's healthcare needs were met.” from the report
Approachable management
People and staff described the management team as visible, supportive and open to views. The home used meetings, feedback and audits to help manage the service.
“People and staff told us there was a visible management presence within the home and they would feel comfortable approaching them to share their views.” from the report
Food preferences
minorOne person said the food did not always meet their standard, although they also said some meals were very good. Inspectors still found that people were supported to have a balanced diet.
“The food is not up to my standard but its ok, some of it can be very good.” from the report
Activities for everyone
minorFeedback had raised a lack of activities. This had led to an activities co-ordinator being employed, but staff said they were still trying to find activities for people who did not usually take part.
“People like it when the children visit, and we are trying to find things to do for people who don't usually like activities.” from the report
- 01How will you find out and meet my relative's food preferences?
- 02What activities are available for people who do not usually join group activities?
- 03How will you review my relative's care plan when their needs or preferences change?
- 04How do you involve relatives in decisions about care and support?
- 05How would you support my relative's end of life wishes and pain relief if needed?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions, including the premises and the care provided; the previous Good rating was carried forward as unchanged. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 February 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.
Every inspection of Alistre Lodge Nursing & Care Home
4 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Alistre Lodge Nursing & Care Home →
- February 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Alistre Lodge Nursing & Care Home →
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: Good
- April 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 January 2011.
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.
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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.