CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bennett Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from avoidable harm. Infection control, recruitment checks, medicines management, risk assessments and learning from incidents were all described positively.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its rating was carried over from the previous inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective quality monitoring, clear staff roles and a positive, open culture. The manager had made significant improvements since the previous inspection.
What inspectors found, June 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management, with improvements since the previous inspection.
The inspection visit took place on 5 May 2022 and was unannounced. One inspector visited the home, spoke with six people, seven staff members and a visiting professional, and reviewed information about the service.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable recruitment checks, trained staff, safe medicines practice, improved infection control and systems for learning from accidents. People said they felt safe and were positive about the staff.
The previous rating was Requires Improvement, with breaches of regulations about infection control and management oversight. The report says improvements had been made and the home was no longer in breach.
This was not a full review of all five areas. The Effective, Caring and Responsive ratings were not inspected and the overall Good rating used ratings from the previous inspection for those areas.
Improved infection control
The home was clean and odour free. Equipment had been reorganised, cleaning arrangements had improved and personal protective equipment was available and used safely.
“The service was clean and odour free.” from the report
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff to care for people, with recruitment checks in place. Staff had training and knew how to respond to emergencies and safeguarding concerns.
“There was a consistent staff team with enough staff to care for people.” from the report
Positive culture
People and staff described the home positively. Inspectors saw staff who were welcoming, attentive, caring and kind.
“There was a positive open and warm culture at the service.” from the report
People involved in decisions
People were asked for their views about care, meals, activities and outings. They were also involved in interviewing new staff.
“People were involved in interviewing new staff and helping to make decisions about whether they should be employed or not.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many permanent night staff are currently employed, and has the recruitment of two night staff been completed?
- 02How often are agency staff used, and how do you make sure they know each person's needs?
- 03How are longer staff shifts monitored to make sure people receive consistent care?
- 04What changes have been made since the previous inspection, and how are you checking that the improvements continue?
- 05How are residents and relatives involved in care reviews, activities and decisions about the home?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 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.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements and plans for COVID-19 staffing pressures.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 3 February 2022. Inspectors checked infection prevention and control, and asked about staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
They found risk assessments for people and higher-risk staff, effective use of isolation, cohorting and zoning, and safe use of protective equipment. The home was clean and had procedures to reduce infection risks.
Staff had completed infection control training. The home had outbreak and staff absence plans, and was facilitating visits in line with government guidance. The overall service and Safe question were inspected but not rated.
Risk assessments
Risk assessments were completed for people using the service and staff in higher-risk groups. Actions were taken to reduce those risks.
“Risk assessments had been carried out on people using services and staff belonging to higher risk groups and actions had been taken to reduce the risks.” from the report
Infection controls
The home used separation and zoning methods effectively to help manage infection risks.
“The service used isolation, cohorting and zoning effectively.” from the report
Staff training
All staff had completed infection prevention and control training, including training on using protective equipment correctly.
“Staff had all completed infection prevention and control training, and this included the correct procedures for using PPE.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and saw procedures intended to reduce infection control risks.
“The service was clean throughout. There were appropriate procedures to ensure infection control risks were minimised.” from the report
Outbreak planning
The registered manager had plans for managing an outbreak and staff absences.
“The registered manager had contingency plans in place to prepare for an outbreak and manage any staff absences effectively.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What changes were made to the Infection Prevention and Control Policy after it was being updated?
- 02How would staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 affect the care and support available each day?
- 03How are isolation, cohorting and zoning used when someone has an infection?
- 04How are visits arranged if infection risks increase?
- 05How would the home manage an outbreak and staff absences at the same time?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; 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.
Every inspection of Bennett Lodge
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2020Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 8 October 2012.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Thurrock
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 £1,210 a week. 86 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Usha rapidly became 'one of the family' and is sorely missed.”
“Always on time and with a lovely smile for my mum. Theresa is kind and sensitive to my mum's needs.”
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.