CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Casterbridge Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind staff and some safe systems, but identified breaches affecting staffing, dignity, personalised care, safety monitoring and management.
This was the home’s first inspection since it was registered under the current provider. Two inspectors visited without notice on 17 and 24 November 2022. They spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals, and checked care, medicine and management records.
People and relatives often spoke warmly about the staff. Medicines, safeguarding, infection control, fire safety and many environmental checks were generally handled well. The home had also made improvements during the inspection, including increasing staffing at mealtimes and improving monitoring arrangements.
However, staff deployment was not always safe. Records did not reliably show whether people at risk of malnutrition or dehydration had enough food and drink. Inspectors also found that some people were not always treated with dignity, given personalised care or offered meaningful choices. Staff induction and competence checks, recruitment checks and quality audits also needed improvement.
All five areas were rated Requires Improvement: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The report says some aspects were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety, with an increased risk that people could be harmed.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse and harm.” from the report
Medicines
Inspectors found medicines were usually managed safely. Staff had medicine training and competency checks, and storage arrangements were suitable.
“Medicines were managed safely. Staff administering medicines wore a red tabard reminding people not to disturb them, to minimise the risk of making a medicine error.” from the report
Infection control and premises
The home was assured about its infection prevention arrangements. Fire and equipment checks were carried out, and substantial refurbishment had taken place.
“A lot of refurbishment had taken place across the home with further improvements planned.” from the report
Warm relationships
People and relatives gave positive feedback about many staff and described them as friendly, warm and compassionate.
“The staff are all so warm and friendly. They talk to their residents very nicely.” from the report
Food and fluids were not reliably monitored
seriousCharts were incomplete and staff did not always know people's fluid targets. This created a risk for people vulnerable to malnutrition or dehydration.
“The charts were not monitored to ensure people, received enough fluids and diet.” from the report
Staffing and competence
seriousThere were not always enough staff with the right skills, and new staff were not given a robust induction or properly observed before working unsupervised.
“Staff were not always deployed within the home to ensure there were enough staff with the skills to meet everybody's needs.” from the report
Dignity and independence
seriousInspectors saw people being told what to do without meaningful engagement. Some people were washed, dressed and returned to bed in ways that did not respect their dignity.
“The provider had failed to ensure people were always treated with dignity and respect.” from the report
Personalised care
seriousSome people received routines that suited staff rather than their own needs and preferences. Care plans did not always involve people or relatives.
“This was not personalised care, but care delivered for the benefit of staff.” from the report
Quality checks missed problems
seriousMonthly audits had not found the concerns identified by inspectors, and it was not clear whether actions had been completed.
“The management team carried out a monthly program of audits. However, these had not identified the areas of concern we identified at this inspection.” from the report
- 01How do you now record and check that people at risk of malnutrition or dehydration receive enough food and fluids?
- 02How are new staff inducted, observed and assessed as competent before working without supervision?
- 03What changes have been made to ensure people are treated with dignity and are supported to make choices?
- 04How are people and their relatives involved in creating and reviewing care plans?
- 05How do your audits now identify problems and track each action through to completion?
This was an unannounced first inspection of the newly registered service and assessed all five CQC areas, including care and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 January 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 Casterbridge Lodge
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- January 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 September 2021.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
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15 live-in carers within about an hour of Dorset
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 £1,040 to £1,340 a week. 11 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Even when things get a bit chaotic (as they sometimes do!), you’ve handled it with patience and a sense of humour — which is gold.”
“Nina was patient, focussed on my aunt's physical well-being, and unfazed by what at the time was a new and uncertain situation”
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.