CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Amberwood Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, July 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, but some records and decision-making checks needed improvement.
The inspection took place on 18 and 19 June 2019. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records, and observed care and daily life.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they were happy and felt safe. Inspectors found trained staff, safe medicines systems, personalised care and a strong focus on choice, independence and community involvement.
The inspection was prompted partly by concerns about safeguarding alerts and physical interventions. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. They did find some incomplete incident and appraisal records, and some missing mental capacity and best-interest paperwork. The overall rating remained Good, as these issues did not result in a lower rating.
People felt safe
People and relatives said they were happy and safe. Inspectors found safeguarding systems, risk assessments and trained staff in place.
“People told us they were happy, felt safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff were described as caring and friendly. Inspectors saw people being treated with dignity and supported to make choices.
“People, professionals and relatives told us staff were kind and caring.” from the report
Promoting independence
The home helped people develop daily living skills, make choices and take part in activities and community life.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's likes, dislikes and preferences and were updated when needs changed.
“Care plans were personalised and updated in response to people's changing needs.” from the report
Improved leadership
A new manager had recruited permanent staff, reduced agency use and promoted an open, positive culture.
“The registered manager promoted a person-centred culture and had a passion for inclusion and making a difference to people.” from the report
Incomplete incident records
needs fixingSome incident forms were not fully completed. Debrief meetings after behavioural incidents also took place without always being recorded.
“However, we noted that some incident forms had not been fully completed.” from the report
Missing behaviour support decisions
needs fixingMental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions had not been completed for some positive behaviour support strategies involving low-level physical interventions. The manager acted during the inspection.
“Assessments and, where appropriate, best interest decisions had not been completed for positive behaviour support strategies” from the report
Incomplete staff appraisal
minorOne appraisal record did not fully cover performance. The manager said this would be followed up.
“One appraisal form we reviewed had not been fully completed in relation to performance.” from the report
More involvement in reviews needed
needs fixingThe home was still working on encouraging people to attend all or part of their own care reviews.
“The registered manager told us that this was an area they were working on at the moment.” from the report
End of life plans developing
minorThe home had started exploring people's end of life wishes but was still developing a suitable planning template.
“People's end of life wishes had started to be explored by the service.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure incident forms and post-incident debriefs are completed and recorded?
- 02How are mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions recorded when positive behaviour support strategies or physical interventions are used?
- 03How will my relative be involved in their care planning and review meetings?
- 04What progress has been made with recording people's end of life wishes?
- 05How do you monitor staffing levels and permanent staff recruitment now that agency staff were no longer being used at the inspection?
This was an inspection of all five CQC questions, including care, medicines, records, staff and the home environment; it was prompted partly by concerns about safeguarding alerts and physical interventions. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 July 2019 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, January 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care, with closer work with community learning disability services recommended.
This was a comprehensive inspection on 8 and 10 November 2017. The first day was unannounced. It was CQC's first inspection under the current provider's ownership. Inspectors met almost everyone living at the home, spoke with people, staff and health professionals, and reviewed care plans, staff files and other records.
Inspectors rated all five areas Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. They found staff knew people well, treated them with kindness, supported their choices and helped them take part in activities at home and in the community.
People's medicines, risks, staffing and premises were found to be managed safely. The home had systems to check quality and respond to problems. Inspectors recommended better liaison and information-sharing with community learning disability services.
Kind and knowledgeable staff
Staff knew people well and understood their needs, communication and preferences. Inspectors observed warm and respectful interactions.
“People were supported with kindness and compassion by staff who knew them well and understood the care they needed.” from the report
Personalised activities
People were supported to follow individual interests and take part in activities, education, work opportunities and community life.
“Activities at home and in the community were based on people's individual interests and needs and were encouraged on a daily basis.” from the report
Choice and communication
The home used easy-read information, pictures and symbols to help people understand information and express their views. People were involved in decisions about their care and the home.
“Information was provided to people in a way they could understand.” from the report
Quality oversight
Managers used audits, meetings and monitoring to check the service. Shortfalls found through these checks were addressed through action plans.
“There was a programme of audits, and any shortfalls identified were addressed through an action plan.” from the report
Community service communication
needs fixingTwo community learning disability professionals said the home had sometimes been slow to return calls or provide documents. CQC recommended more proactive liaison and information-sharing.
“We recommend the provider reviews procedures at the service for liaising and working with community learning disability services.” from the report
Covert medicines advice
minorOne person's medicines had sometimes been given covertly without evidence that a pharmacist had been consulted. The manager obtained written pharmacist advice before the inspection ended.
“One person had medicines administered covertly on occasions but there was no evidence on file of consultation with a pharmacist.” from the report
Night staff recruitment
minorStaffing levels were considered sufficient, but the home was trying to recruit more night staff. Ask what the current night staffing position is.
“The service was trying to recruit further night staff.” from the report
- 01What has changed in the way you work with community learning disability services since this inspection?
- 02How do you make sure a pharmacist is consulted whenever medicines are given covertly or with food?
- 03Have the extra night staff the home was recruiting been appointed, and what are the current night staffing levels?
- 04How do you track Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards applications, expiry dates and any conditions?
- 05How are people and their families involved in reviewing personalised care plans and activity choices?
This was a routine comprehensive inspection covering all five questions and both the premises and care provided; the first day was unannounced. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 January 2018 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 Amberwood Lodge
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- July 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2018GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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.
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37 live-in carers within about an hour of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
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 £1,000 to £1,300 a week. 26 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“We could not have managed without her calm, reassuring presence and practical knowledge and skill in caring and supporting both my husband and the family and I.”
“I cannot recommend Prisca highly enough, she is one in a million.”
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.