CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Argentum Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and arrangements to support safe visits.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 18 August 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control measures during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good arrangements for visitors, including health declarations, temperature checks, protective equipment and a separate visitors' suite. They also found people were supported to keep in touch with loved ones, and that staff were working in small, consistent groups.
The inspectors were assured about infection control, use of protective equipment, testing, social distancing, cleanliness and contingency plans. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Visitor safety
Visitors had several checks on arrival, and protective equipment was available with help on how to use it.
“Visitors were asked to read and sign a health declaration and have their temperature checked on arrival.” from the report
Contact with families
The home created a planned visiting arrangement with a screen and microphone so people could communicate with loved ones.
“A visitors suite had been created. A bedroom with direct access onto the garden had been fitted with a permanent see-through screen” from the report
Consistent staffing
People were cared for by a small, consistent staff group, with staff allocated to specific areas and no agency staff needed during the pandemic.
“People have been cared for by a small and consistent group of staff.” from the report
Infection control systems
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, supporting testing and maintaining hygiene and outbreak plans.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Planning and communication
The home had contingency plans and regular communication with staff and relatives. Inspectors also found it clean and people looked well cared for.
“Argentum Lodge had clear contingency plans in place. There was regular communication from the directors and the registered manager, to staff and to relatives.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01Are the visitor health declarations, temperature checks and protective equipment arrangements still used?
- 02How are people supported to keep in contact with relatives if normal visits cannot take place?
- 03Are small, consistent staff groups still used, and are agency staff now needed?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 05What are the home's current contingency arrangements for an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not provide an overall rating or assess the other main care questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 August 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 2019
Argentum Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, with some room to improve activities and end-of-life planning.
This was a planned, unannounced inspection. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and a visiting professional. They reviewed care records, training records, complaints, audits and other records.
The home provided personal and nursing care for up to 56 people living with dementia. Inspectors found people were safe, treated kindly and supported by staff who understood their needs. Medicines, staffing, care planning, food and links with health professionals were generally managed well.
The home received Good ratings in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors suggested more informal activities for people with dementia, clearer activity information and more detailed end-of-life plans. The previous rating was Requires Improvement, published in January 2018.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people kindly and respectfully. The atmosphere was calm and settled.
“Staff were respectful and kind in their interactions.” from the report
Safe medicines and risk management
Risk assessments guided staff and were reviewed. Inspectors also found safe storage, administration and recording of medicines.
“Risk assessments contained clear measures to manage the risk identified.” from the report
Good support with food and health
People had food choices and received respectful, unhurried support at mealtimes. Staff worked with healthcare professionals to meet people's needs.
“We observed the lunch time meal and saw that people received support as they needed it, in a respectful and unhurried manner.” from the report
Personalised care and activities
Staff knew people well and care plans described their individual needs and preferences. The home also had activities and links with the local community.
“It was evident that staff knew people well and understood their individual needs and preferences.” from the report
Open management
Families were kept informed and could raise concerns. Audits were used to identify actions for improvement.
“There was a programme of audits in place to check that the service was running as it should.” from the report
More informal activities
minorInspectors said people with dementia may benefit from more spontaneous activities, such as rummage bags or memory boxes. A shop area was not yet fully functioning.
“People may benefit from more 'ad hoc', activities to engage them. Such as rummage bags or memory boxes.” from the report
Activity information was hard to see
minorSome activity information was written in faint ink. Inspectors said more visual prompts could help people understand information around the home.
“The activity programme was written up on whiteboards and in some places the ink was quite faint and may be difficult for people to see.” from the report
End-of-life plans lacked detail
needs fixingSome records included only general information about end-of-life wishes rather than details specific to the person. The manager said these would be reviewed when people and families were ready.
“The plans didn't contain specific details about the person concerned.” from the report
- 01What additional informal activities are now available for people with dementia, such as rummage bags or memory boxes?
- 02How do you make activity information clear and easy for people with dementia to see?
- 03How are each person's specific end-of-life wishes discussed, recorded and reviewed with them and their family?
- 04How often are agency staff used, and how do you make sure they know each person's needs?
- 05What happened to the shop area that inspectors said was not fully functioning?
This inspection covered all five CQC questions, but the report gives two different inspection dates: 12 September 2019 on the front page and 12 August 2019 in the inspection section. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 October 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.
Every inspection of Argentum Lodge
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- August 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 October 2018.
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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of North Somerset
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 £1,050 to £1,320 a week. 19 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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.