CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Devonshire House and Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, July 2021
Targeted inspection found good infection-control and visiting arrangements, but the service was inspected but not rated.
Inspectors visited on 12 May 2021 after concerns were raised about infection control and visiting arrangements. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and helping people keep in contact with loved ones.
Inspectors were assured that visitors could visit safely. Arrangements included booking visits, temperature checks, lateral flow tests, personal protective equipment and outdoor or conservatory visits. Relatives were kept updated by phone and email.
The home had regular COVID-19 testing, suitable cleaning arrangements and enough personal protective equipment. Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including the safe use of the building and plans for a possible outbreak.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not give an overall quality rating or a standard rating for the five areas of care.
Safe visiting
Visits were booked and supported by temperature checks, lateral flow tests and personal protective equipment. Outdoor and conservatory spaces were used where possible.
“There were suitable arrangements in place for visitors to the care home.” from the report
Keeping families informed
The registered manager regularly updated relatives about visiting guidance and the home's visiting policy. The booking system was also checked to make sure visits were safe and fair.
“The registered manager kept people and relatives regularly updated in relation to visiting guidance.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors found regular testing, effective use of personal protective equipment, hand-washing facilities and infection-control training for staff.
“Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hand-washing facilities including hand sanitizer was readily available around the home.” from the report
Clean premises
The home was visibly clean. Enhanced cleaning and regular audits were in place for frequently touched surfaces.
“The premises were visibly clean and hygienic. A cleaning schedule was in place with enhanced cleaning” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have the visiting arrangements changed since the inspection in May 2021?
- 02How are relatives told about changes to visiting guidance and the home's visiting policy?
- 03How is the booking system checked to make sure visits remain safe and fair?
- 04How often are residents and staff tested for COVID-19 now?
- 05What would happen if there were an infection outbreak in the home?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with particular attention to visiting arrangements; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 July 2021 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, May 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection control arrangements were in place.
This was a targeted inspection about infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic. Inspectors looked at visiting, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, cleaning, staff arrangements and plans for managing an outbreak.
Inspectors found suitable arrangements for visitors, including tests, protective equipment, temperature checks and pre-booked visits. The home provided protected visiting areas and supported contact with family and friends. It followed current guidance for admissions and visits, including end-of-life and exceptional visits.
The home had regular cleaning, infection control audits and staff training. Inspectors said they were assured about all the infection control areas they checked. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Visiting arrangements
The home had testing, protective equipment, temperature checks and pre-booked visits. It also provided a conservatory with protective screens and outdoor visiting areas.
“There were suitable arrangements in place for visitors to the care home.” from the report
Cleanliness and hygiene
Inspectors found the premises visibly clean and hygienic. Regular cleaning included extra attention to frequently touched areas.
“The premises were visibly clean and hygienic and cleaning was carried out regularly, with enhanced cleaning on touchpoints, such as light switches and door handles.” from the report
Infection control systems
Staff had infection control training, regular audits were completed and the home had arrangements for protective equipment, clinical waste and possible outbreak zoning.
“Staff had completed infection control training, which included specific COVID-19 modules.” from the report
Inspector assurance
The inspection found no identified shortfall in the infection prevention and control areas that were checked.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do visits work now, including the arrangements for designated visitors and visits in exceptional circumstances?
- 02How do you check that staff and agency staff complete the required COVID-19 testing?
- 03What would happen if there was an infection outbreak, and how would residents and families be kept informed?
- 04How do you make sure new residents are admitted safely after information is received from hospital?
- 05How are cleaning, hand hygiene and other infection control checks followed up when an audit identifies an issue?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other four questions were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 May 2021 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 Devonshire House and Lodge
4 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- July 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2018Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2017Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 June 2016.
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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.