CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Dale Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Dale Lodge was rated Good overall, with Outstanding personalised activities and a Fire Safety Order still being worked through.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 14 February 2019. The inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and health professionals. They reviewed care records, medicines, complaints, staff files, training, safety records and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall and remained Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. Inspectors found people were safe, treated kindly, involved in decisions and supported by trained staff.
Responsive care was rated Outstanding. Staff understood people's preferences and went further than expected to provide meaningful activities, family events, music and links with the local community.
The home had improved from Good to Outstanding for Responsive since the previous inspection, published on 25 August 2016. Inspectors also noted that the provider was still working towards meeting the requirements of a Fire Safety Order issued in October 2018.
Personalised activities
Staff adapted activities to people's interests and circumstances. They arranged special celebrations and supported people to take part in ways that suited them.
“Staff went the 'extra mile' to respond to people's choices and preferences.” from the report
Community links
The home developed links with local groups, including visits from children who sang and danced while people read stories to them.
“The service took a key role in the local community and was actively involved in building further links.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were treated with compassion and included in decisions about their daily lives. Staff also supported people's dignity and independence.
“People continued to be treated with kindness, dignity and compassion and involved in decisions about their care.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors saw staff respond promptly to people's needs. Medicines systems were organised and staff training and competency checks were in place.
“Medicines systems were organised so people received their medicines at the right time.” from the report
Positive leadership
The manager was visible and knew people well. Quality checks helped identify changes needed in care plans and other areas.
“The registered manager was central to creating a positive culture at the service where people were at the centre.” from the report
Fire safety work outstanding
needs fixingThe provider was still working towards meeting the requirements of a Fire Safety Order issued by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service in October 2018. Ask what work remained and whether it has since been completed.
“The provider was working towards meeting the requirements of a Fire Safety Order issued by the Kent Fire and Rescue Service in October 2018” from the report
- 01What work was required under the Fire Safety Order issued in October 2018, and has every requirement now been completed?
- 02How are the personalised activities, music sessions and family events planned and reviewed for each person?
- 03How do you make sure care plans remain up to date when a person's needs, preferences or health changes?
- 04How are medicines given only when needed, and how are staff's medicines skills checked?
- 05How do people and relatives give feedback or raise concerns, and what changes have been made as a result?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall quality and safety of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 April 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 Dale Lodge
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Good
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2015
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 January 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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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.