CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Alvina Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found safe, caring and responsive support, but improvements were needed in staff training, induction and management.
The inspection visit took place on 5 April 2023. One inspector spoke with two people and three staff, reviewed care and medicines records, checked staff files and examined complaints, audits, meetings and improvement plans.
People told inspectors they felt safe and were treated with respect. Risks were assessed, medicines were generally managed safely, care plans reflected people's needs, and people were supported to make choices and live more independently.
The main weaknesses were in staff support and management. Some staff had not received a full induction at this home, appraisals were not regular, training was mainly online, and some staff did not feel supported or valued.
The overall rating changed from Good at the previous inspection to Requires Improvement. Safe, Caring and Responsive were rated Good. Effective and Well-led were rated Requires Improvement.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff knew how to report safeguarding concerns and the home had systems for investigating incidents.
“People who used the service told us they felt safe.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's needs, preferences, routines, health and wellbeing. Staff knew how to support people in line with these plans.
“People's needs were recorded in their care plans and met.” from the report
Respect and independence
People were treated with dignity and involved in decisions. Two people had made progress towards living independently.
“People were supported to be independent and make their own decisions and planning.” from the report
Safety systems
The home had regular safety checks, emergency plans and processes to review accidents and near misses.
“Incidents, accidents and near misses were analysed and reviewed by the management” from the report
Partnership working
The manager worked with health and social care professionals and shared relevant information with staff.
“The registered manager worked well with the healthcare and social care professionals involved in the care” from the report
Incomplete induction
needs fixingSome staff who had worked at the provider's other service had not received a separate induction at this home. Inspectors said this could mean they did not receive the support needed for their role.
“Some staff had worked at the provider's other service and had not received a separate induction when they started working at Alvina Lodge.” from the report
Limited practical training
needs fixingTraining was online and did not include in-depth training in techniques to support people who might become aggressive or struggle with emotions and anxiety.
“The staff received training in mental health, this was online and did not include in depth information for staff to have a deeper understanding of people's needs.” from the report
Staff support and appraisals
needs fixingSome staff had not received appraisals and some did not feel supported or valued. Staff had not been surveyed in the previous year.
“The staff were not always consulted about their views of the service and the provider.” from the report
Medicine record gap
seriousOne person's as-required medicine was not listed on the pharmacist's medicines administration record. Staff had recorded it on a separate chart, and the record was corrected after the inspection.
“One person's medicines, to be given 'as required' (PRN) was not recorded on the medicines administration record (MAR) provided by the pharmacist.” from the report
Uninviting shared room
minorInspectors found the lounge dark and uninviting, with few personal items and a large staff desk. They also noted that one shower room needed updating.
“The lounge was dark and uninviting.” from the report
- 01What has changed since the inspection to give staff a full induction when they start at this home?
- 02What face-to-face or practical training do staff now receive to support people who struggle with emotions, anxiety or aggression?
- 03How often are staff now given appraisals and opportunities to raise concerns or suggest improvements?
- 04How do you check that every medicine, including as-required medicines, is listed correctly on the medicines administration record?
- 05What changes have been made to the lounge and the shower room since inspectors raised concerns about the environment?
This inspection looked at all five CQC questions, including infection prevention and control, and the ratings for Effective and Well-led changed from Good to Requires Improvement. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 May 2023 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, May 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 21 January 2022. Inspectors gave the home 24 hours’ notice and looked mainly at infection prevention, visiting arrangements and the effect of COVID-19 staffing pressures.
The home supported four people and could accommodate up to five adults with mental health needs. Inspectors were assured that the home was using personal protective equipment safely, arranging testing, managing visitors and keeping its infection control policy up to date.
People were supported to have visitors and to access the community. Inspectors also found COVID-19 risk assessments, infection control training for care workers and plans for managing a possible outbreak.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not provide a quality rating for the service or a full assessment of all five areas of care.
Visiting arrangements
People could have visitors with checks, testing and suitable arrangements for meeting in bedrooms, communal areas or the garden.
“People living at the home were supported to have visitors in line with current guidance.” from the report
Infection control training
Care workers had training in infection control and PPE, and inspectors saw PPE being used in line with guidance.
“Care workers had completed training on infection control and the use of PPE.” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
The provider had a process for regular COVID-19 testing and had explained how people who tested positive would be supported during an outbreak.
“The provider had a clear process for supporting people with monthly COVID-19 testing” from the report
Risk assessments
The home had COVID-19 risk assessments for people living there and identified ways to reduce their risks.
“COVID 19 risk assessments had been carried out for people living at the service” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your visiting arrangements changed since the inspection in January 2022?
- 02How would you support my relative if they tested positive for COVID-19 or there was an outbreak?
- 03How do you currently manage COVID-19 or other infection risks for each person living here?
- 04How do you manage staffing pressures when care workers are absent because of illness or COVID-19?
- 05How do you check that staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination or exemption requirements?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 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 6 May 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.
Every inspection of Alvina Lodge
2 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- May 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 September 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.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hillingdon
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 £1,320 a week. 81 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“She has an unusual combination of kindness and firmness, is quite unflappable, physically strong, extremely savvy”
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.