CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Bonehill Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. There were enough staff, safe recruitment checks, suitable risk assessments and systems for medicines, infection control and learning from incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management responsibilities, regular audits and a positive, open culture. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to give feedback and be involved.
What inspectors found, November 2022
Bonehill Lodge is rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and the home was well-led, with one medicine-count issue dealt with during the visit.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 6 October 2022. It followed concerns received from the local authority. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable risk assessments, safeguarding training and effective infection control. They also found systems for reviewing accidents and learning from them.
Inspectors found that managers promoted an open culture and involved people, relatives and staff in the running of the home. They found one issue with some medicine counts, which managers addressed promptly and followed with measures to reduce the risk of it happening again.
The overall rating stayed Good. Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected at this visit, so their previous ratings were used when calculating the overall rating.
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and safe recruitment checks, including identity, references and DBS checks.
“There were safe staffing levels throughout the inspection; staff were available and responsive to people's needs.” from the report
Safeguarding and risk management
Staff had safeguarding training and understood people's individual risks. Risk assessments and emergency plans were in place and reviewed.
“Records we viewed, and staff confirmed, people's needs were met through the use of detailed risk assessments.” from the report
Open management
Managers were described as approachable and visible. Staff said they could raise concerns or suggestions, and people and relatives were involved in care and feedback.
“The managers listen to you, they are always available and are responsive when I make a suggestion.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The home recorded and investigated accidents and incidents. Lessons learned were shared with staff through supervision and team meetings.
“Lessons learned were shared with the whole staff team during supervisions and team meetings.” from the report
Medicine counts
needs fixingInspectors identified one issue involving some medicine counts. Managers addressed it immediately and put measures in place to reduce the risk of it happening again.
“There was one issue identified during the inspection in relation to some medicine counts which was discussed with the registered manager and the deputy manager immediately.” from the report
- 01What was the issue with the medicine counts, and how do you check that the new measures are working?
- 02What changes were made after the recent local authority quality assurance visit?
- 03How are individual risk assessments reviewed when a person's needs or risks change?
- 04How will relative meetings be reintroduced, and how will relatives' feedback be acted on?
- 05How do you make sure there are enough staff on each shift for the people living here?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection published on 26 April 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 November 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, April 2018
Rated Good overall, with Outstanding personalised support and activities, while capacity assessment records could be clearer.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 March 2018. One inspector and an expert by experience observed care, spoke with people, relatives, staff and other professionals, and checked care records, medicines records, staff files and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall. Inspectors also rated it Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. They found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable training, support with food and healthcare, kind care, and systems to monitor quality.
Responsive care was rated Outstanding. Inspectors found that support was tailored to people's wishes and interests. People were helped to maintain relationships, follow their beliefs, communicate in ways they understood and take part in activities that suited them. The report says this was an improvement from the previous rating for Responsive.
Personalised care
Care plans focused on people's individual needs and wishes. Staff reviewed support when people's needs changed.
“People were supported to live full lives and received care that reflected how they wanted to be supported.” from the report
Activities and community links
People could choose from activities such as music, crafts, a choir, community visits and links with a local school.
“Staff continually looked and strived for ways to improve the opportunities people had to engage with each other and to participate in social events.” from the report
Respect and dignity
Inspectors found that staff listened to people, respected privacy and supported personal relationships, beliefs and self-expression.
“People were recognised and valued as adults and their privacy and dignity was respected.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
People said staff responded quickly when help was needed. Medicines were given according to prescriptions and recorded after people took them.
“People continued to receive safe care. There were enough staff to support people and staff were recruited to ensure that they were safe to work with people.” from the report
Capacity records could be clearer
minorInspectors said capacity assessments could explain more clearly how specific decisions were made and how the decision about capacity had been reached.
“In discussion with the manager they identified how capacity assessments could be improved to further highlight how all specific decisions were made.” from the report
- 01How do you record how a capacity decision has been reached for each specific decision?
- 02How will you make sure care plans are reviewed promptly when a person's needs or wishes change?
- 03What activities and community visits would be available for my relative, based on their interests and abilities?
- 04How would you support my relative to communicate if they use a first language other than English or need easy-read information?
- 05How would you discuss and record my relative's end of life wishes if their needs changed?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; end of life care was not assessed because the home was not supporting anyone with it at the time. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 April 2018 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 Bonehill Lodge
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- April 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 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 Staffordshire
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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.