CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Badgers Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Risks were assessed and recorded, medicines records were accurate, and inspectors found enough competent staff to meet people's needs. Infection prevention arrangements were also found to be effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had mandatory and specialist training, and new staff received an induction. However, not all staff had received regular formal supervision.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Relatives said staff were caring, and people were encouraged to make choices and do as much as they could for themselves.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans described people's individual needs and preferences. People were supported with communication, relationships, activities and access to the local community, although the symbols board was not being used as fully as it should have been.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had improved its quality checks and used information about incidents, falls, infections, weight and pressure area care to support improvement. Relatives and staff were positive about the management.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Rated Good after improving from Requires Improvement; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some staff supervision still to strengthen.
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection, carried out on 21 and 29 June 2023. One inspector visited the home, spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers, observed care, and checked care files, medicines, staffing, complaints and quality checks.
The home provides nursing and personal care for up to 10 people with complex learning disabilities or mental health and physical health needs. All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
The home had previously been rated Requires Improvement after the April and May 2022 inspection. Inspectors found enough improvement had been made, and the home was no longer in breach of regulations. They found better risk management, staffing, training, person-centred care and oversight.
Better safety arrangements
Risk assessments and management plans were in place, and staff understood how to reduce risks such as choking, aspiration and unsafe mobility.
“Risks to people's safety and wellbeing were assessed and recorded.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed warm relationships between people and staff. Relatives said people were treated with kindness, dignity and respect.
“People received support from staff that ensured they were treated with care, kindness, and compassion; and their care was person-centred.” from the report
Personalised daily life
People's rooms, meals, communication and activities were adapted to their preferences and needs. People could take part in activities at the home and in the local community.
“People received good, personalised care and support that was responsive to their needs.” from the report
Improved leadership and oversight
The home had stronger quality checks and reviewed incidents and other information to identify lessons and improvements. Relatives and staff described the management positively.
“The service is now well led and much improved since your last inspection” from the report
Staff supervision
needs fixingNot all staff had received regular formal supervision. The manager told inspectors this would improve, but the report records it as an area still needing attention.
“Not all staff had received regular formal supervision.” from the report
Communication aid not fully used
minorA symbols board was available to help people communicate, but staff were not using it as fully as they should. The manager said action would be taken.
“There was a symbols board displayed within the communal lounge to enable people and staff to effectively communicate, but this was not being used as fully as it should.” from the report
Staff sometimes felt rushed
minorAlthough relatives generally felt there were enough staff, one relative said staff could sometimes seem under pressure and rushed.
“I think there are enough staff, but I feel sometimes staff are pressed and rushing around” from the report
- 01How do you check that every member of staff receives regular formal supervision?
- 02How is the symbols board now being used to help people communicate?
- 03How do you respond when staff feel pressed or rushed during shifts?
- 04How will my relative's communication needs, food preferences and activity choices be recorded and reviewed?
- 05How will you show us that the improvements made since the previous inspection are being maintained?
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection that rated all five key questions and also checked infection prevention and control arrangements. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 August 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, June 2022
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found serious shortfalls in staffing, safety checks, personal care and person-centred support.
Inspectors visited on three dates. Two visits were unannounced. They spoke with eight relatives and 16 staff, observed care, checked records and reviewed training and management information.
The home supports up to 10 people with complex learning disabilities and mental or physical health needs. Inspectors found that staffing shortages and staff turnover affected personal care, activities, communication and consistency of support.
There were problems with risk management, incident reporting, medicines storage, food preparation, the environment and care reviews. Inspectors also found some good practice, including safeguarding knowledge, healthcare referrals and efforts to reduce unnecessary restrictions.
The overall rating and all five question ratings were Requires Improvement. Safe, Effective, Caring and Responsive had fallen from Good at the previous inspection. Well-led remained Requires Improvement. The provider was required to send an action plan and progress will be monitored.
Safeguarding awareness
Staff had training about abuse and knew how to report concerns. The home worked with other agencies to protect people.
“Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.” from the report
Health support
The home made referrals to health professionals and involved specialist teams, including district nursing, occupational therapy and speech and language support.
“People were referred to health care professionals to help them to live healthy lives.” from the report
Some kind interactions
Inspectors saw staff using a kind approach and checking consent during personal care. Some permanent staff knew people well.
“The member of staff had a kind attitude and made the person laugh.” from the report
Safe medicines practice in some areas
Although storage was a concern, staff followed processes for prescribing, giving and recording medicines. Medicines given when needed were monitored.
“People were supported by staff who followed systems and processes to prescribe, administer and record medicines safely.” from the report
Not enough skilled staff
seriousStaff shortages and turnover meant people were not always supported by staff who understood their complex needs. Care staff also had to prepare meals and do other duties.
“Sufficient numbers of suitably competent and skilled staff were not available to meet people's needs.” from the report
Risks and incidents not reliably managed
seriousSome risk checks were missed and two incidents were not known to managers. This included people receiving each other's meals despite having special diets.
“Systems were not robust enough to ensure that peoples current risks were safely managed and mitigated, and accidents and incidents were not always reported.” from the report
Food and modified diets
seriousSome staff were not confident preparing food and drinks to the required texture. Families also raised concerns about variety, quantity and food that did not suit people's needs.
“The lack of proper kitchen staff is a big concern to us all as we do not think there is a balanced diet, food is repetitive and there have been big lumps in what should be pureed food.” from the report
Personal care and belongings
seriousPersonal care was not always provided promptly. Families reported concerns about showering, laundry, clothing and belongings being mixed up or poorly maintained.
“People's personal care needs were not met in a timely way and their possessions and environment were not well maintained.” from the report
Limited activities and space
needs fixingA lack of staff, clutter and limited communal space restricted activities and made the environment noisy. The sensory room could not initially be used effectively.
“Staff were not always able to support people to take part in activities and pursue their interests due to lack of staff and issues with the physical environment at the property.” from the report
Weak oversight
seriousQuality checks did not identify several problems. Responsibilities had become unclear after changes to the staffing structure, and care plans were not always reviewed as intended.
“Systems and processes to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the services provided were not always effective.” from the report
- 01How many staff are now working on each shift, and how do you make sure there are enough staff who know each person's complex needs?
- 02What competency checks have been completed for moving and handling, modified diets and food and drink textures?
- 03How are medicines stored now, including temperature checks, and how are accidents and incidents reported and reviewed?
- 04How often are care plans reviewed with the person and their family, and how are their communication needs and personal preferences recorded?
- 05What evidence can you show that the sensory room, quiet area, activities and outings are now available consistently?
This inspection looked at the premises, care and infection prevention measures and assessed all five CQC questions; it was carried out to assess the Right support, right care, right culture principles. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 June 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 Badgers Lodge
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2022Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 November 2020.
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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35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
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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.