CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Benham Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient, medicines were managed safely and the environment was well maintained.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs and choices. Staff had relevant training and competency checks, and the home worked with health professionals to support people's health.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and respectful. People were supported to communicate in their preferred way, make choices and maintain their privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and covered people's preferences, communication and daily living needs. People were supported with relationships, activities, interests and access to the community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an open culture and regular checks on care, medicines, staffing, health and safety and infection control. The manager worked with staff, families and other professionals to improve care.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Benham Lodge is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
Inspectors made an unannounced visit on 24 October 2023. Two inspectors spoke with people, staff and the registered manager. They observed care and reviewed care records, staff files, medicines information and management records.
The home supported eight people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and involved in decisions about their care. Staff understood people's communication methods, supported their independence and helped them take part in activities and community life.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The previous rating was also Good in 2020 under the previous provider. This was the first inspection under the new provider.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough suitable staff. Staff had time to spend with people and knew them well.
“The provider ensured there were sufficient numbers of suitable staff. We observed staff had time to spend individually with people and knew everyone very well.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with kindness and respect. Staff protected privacy and supported independence.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Communication and choice
Staff understood different ways of communicating and helped people make choices about their care.
“People's support plans were in easy read or pictorial formats and people were able to understand them.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, skills and routines. People were supported to pursue interests and use community facilities.
“Support plans were personalised and each person's preferred personal care routines were detailed incorporating their preferences and skills as to what they could do for themselves.” from the report
Working with health services
The home worked with health and social care professionals and acted on advice about people's needs.
“Staff are always accommodating and are regularly in touch with our surgery to maintain the health and well-being of all the residents.” from the report
Training still being rolled out
minorThe home had enrolled staff for Oliver McGowan training, but this was still being rolled out at the time of inspection. Families may wish to ask how much has now been completed.
“We have enrolled our staff to complete the Oliver McGowan training.” from the report
- 01How many staff have now completed the Oliver McGowan training, and when will the remaining staff complete it?
- 02How would you support my relative's preferred way of communicating, including any pictures, symbols, gestures or sounds?
- 03How are my relative's health needs, medicines and risks reviewed when their needs change?
- 04What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative based on their interests?
- 05How would my family member and our family be involved in care planning and raising any concerns?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, including the premises and care provided; it was the first inspection under the new provider. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 December 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.
Every inspection of Benham Lodge
2 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2023
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 May 2023.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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 £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
“Irene was a very kind and empathetic carer who knew just the right words to say to put a smile on my face.”
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.