CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bay Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed through visitor checks, testing, protective equipment, hygiene, social distancing and outbreak planning. The home also met the vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Bay Lodge was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 12 January 2022. Inspectors gave 24 hours' notice and looked at infection prevention, visiting arrangements and whether staffing pressures affected care.
The home was following the COVID-19 guidance in place at the time. Inspectors were assured about visitor checks, personal protective equipment, testing, hygiene, social distancing and arrangements for preventing or managing outbreaks.
The home also met the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated. It kept organised records of people's vaccination status and test results.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a quality rating for the service or a rated score for the Safe question.
Infection prevention
Inspectors were assured that the home had measures to prevent and manage infections, including safe use of protective equipment, testing and hygiene practices.
“We were assured that the provider was preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Visitors were checked on arrival and visits were planned to reduce the risk of infection spreading between people.
“Visitors were kept distanced from other residents to reduce the risk of cross contamination.” from the report
Record keeping
The home kept organised records of people's COVID-19 vaccination status and test results.
“The Registered Manager had a methodical and structured approach to recording individuals COVID-19 vaccination status and test results.” from the report
Staff vaccination checks
The home was meeting the requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The service was meeting the requirement to ensure non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated against COVID-19.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 12 January 2022?
- 02How are visits planned now, and how do you reduce the risk of infection spreading between residents?
- 03How do you keep current records of people's COVID-19 vaccinations and test results?
- 04How do you check that non-exempt staff and visiting professionals meet the current vaccination requirements?
- 05What staffing pressures were present at the time of the inspection, and have these now been resolved?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it was not a full service assessment and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 February 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, November 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some records and staffing arrangements needing attention.
Inspectors visited on 6 November 2019. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They observed care and checked care plans, medicines records, recruitment and management records.
The home supported five younger adults with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found that people appeared relaxed with staff and were encouraged to make choices, build independence, attend activities and take part in community life.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the previous inspection, published in June 2017.
Trusting relationships
People appeared relaxed with staff and showed that they trusted them. Relatives also described people as happy and well supported.
“People were relaxed with staff and showed by their actions they trusted them.” from the report
Building independence
People were supported to learn daily living skills, attend college, go shopping and take part in activities that mattered to them.
“People were supported to achieve goals aimed at increasing their independence and sense of well-being.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were stored and given safely. Records, stock checks, audits and staff competency checks were in place.
“Medicines administration charts were completed consistently and twice daily stock checks were completed.” from the report
Accessible communication
Staff understood how people communicated, including through gestures, pictures, signs and an electronic tablet. Easy-read information was also used.
“People's communication needs were known and understood by staff.” from the report
Involvement in care
People were encouraged to express their views and take part in decisions about their care. Relatives could join care plan reviews.
“People were involved as much as possible in decision making and were encouraged to express their views.” from the report
Incomplete decision records
needs fixingThe report says formal mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions were not always recorded. The management team agreed to review this.
“Care plans reflected the principles of the MCA although formal mental capacity assessments and best interest decision making processes were not always documented.” from the report
Staff vacancies
needs fixingThere were two staff vacancies when inspectors visited. Permanent staff, including the manager, worked extra shifts and agency staff were used where needed.
“At the time of the inspection the service were actively recruiting, due to two staff vacancies.” from the report
Evacuation practice
minorPlans for evacuating the building were in place, but a training or practice session was still being planned.
“The registered manager said they were planning to hold a training/practice session to ensure staff were conversant with the requirements.” from the report
Oral hygiene training
minorPeople had access to dental care and oral health was recorded in care plans. However, extra oral hygiene training for staff was still under discussion.
“The registered manager and regional manager were discussing the provision of training for staff on oral hygiene.” from the report
- 01How are you covering the two staff vacancies, and how will you keep one-to-one support consistent?
- 02How do you check that agency staff understand each person's needs before working with them?
- 03Have formal mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions now been fully recorded and reviewed?
- 04Has the planned evacuation training and practice session taken place?
- 05What oral hygiene training do staff receive, and how do you support each person with dental care?
This was a planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; the previous overall rating was Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 November 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 Bay Lodge
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 July 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.