CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Eastwood Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found suitable safeguarding, risk management, staffing, recruitment, medicines and infection control arrangements. They also found systems for recording accidents and learning from them.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was carried forward.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open and inclusive culture, regular feedback and meetings, clear staff responsibilities, audits and links with outside health and social care organisations.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found people were safe, medicines were managed well and the home was open to feedback, but there was no registered manager in post.
The inspection took place on 24 July 2023 and was carried out by one inspector. The inspector spoke with people, staff, relatives and the management team. They reviewed care plans, risk assessments, recruitment files, medicines records, training and safety checks.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable safeguarding arrangements, medicines managed safely and infection control measures in place. People and relatives said they felt safe and were happy with the care and management.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led. The other three areas were not inspected during this visit, so their ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. The overall rating remained Good.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. The home did not use agency staff, so people were supported by staff who knew them.
“The provider did not use any agency staff. This helped to ensure people received consistent care from staff who knew them well.” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Medicines records were completed correctly and people received their medicines at the prescribed times. There were also regular reviews by GPs.
“We found people received the medicines prescribed to them at the right time” from the report
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they had no safety concerns. Staff had safeguarding training and knew how to report possible abuse.
“People and their relatives told us the service was safe and they did not have any concerns.” from the report
Open management
People, relatives and staff were encouraged to share views. The home held meetings and carried out audits to identify improvements.
“The management team operated an 'open door' policy and they encouraged people, relatives and staff to speak with them at any time.” from the report
Registered manager vacancy
minorThere was no registered manager in post when inspectors visited. The provider was recruiting and a manager was in post while this took place, with daily support from the provider.
“At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. However, the provider was actively recruiting for a manager.” from the report
- 01Who is currently responsible for the home while the registered manager is being recruited?
- 02How many staff are on each shift, and how is staffing reviewed when people's needs change?
- 03How are medicines reviews and changes to medicine times recorded and checked?
- 04How are relatives' views and suggestions acted on, and what improvements have resulted from recent feedback?
- 05Which ratings were carried over from the previous inspection rather than checked during this visit?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other three key-question ratings were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 August 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.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Eastwood Lodge is Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with minor improvements still needed in staff records and activities.
This was an unannounced inspection on 9 November 2017. One inspector and an expert by experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and a health professional. They also observed care and checked care plans, medicines, recruitment, training and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines procedures, appropriate safeguarding arrangements and suitable risk assessments. People were treated with respect and supported with their choices, healthcare, food and activities.
At the previous inspection in March 2015, the home was rated Requires Improvement for Safe and received three recommendations. Inspectors said all three recommendations had been addressed, so the home remained Good overall.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels had improved since the previous inspection. People said staff responded promptly, and staff worked without appearing rushed.
“The service had enough staff to support people in a safe manner and robust staff recruitment procedures were in place.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as caring. Inspectors saw staff respond gently when someone became distressed and found that privacy, dignity and independence were promoted.
“People told us they were treated in a kind and caring manner by staff.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans covered people's individual needs, including personal care, food, culture, religion and night-time routines. Staff understood the people they supported.
“Care plans were personalised and based around the needs of individuals.” from the report
Improvement since the last inspection
The three recommendations from the March 2015 inspection had been addressed. These included staffing, as-required medicines and hot water temperature checks.
“During this inspection we found all the recommendations had been addressed and the service remains rated as Good.” from the report
Open management
Staff and relatives said the manager was approachable and kept people informed. The home held meetings, carried out surveys and used audits to monitor the service.
“Staff spoke positively about the registered manager and the working atmosphere at the service.” from the report
Supervision records
minorStaff had one-to-one supervision, but the manager did not always keep a written record of these meetings. Inspectors recommended that this should be done.
“However, the registered manager did not always keep a written record of staff supervision and we recommended that they do so.” from the report
No regular activities timetable
minorPeople took part in activities and trips, but these were arranged on an ad hoc basis. Inspectors recommended considering a regular timetable.
“However, the service did not have an organised activities timetable, rather they were provided on an ad-hoc basis.” from the report
Controlled drugs cabinet
needs fixingControlled drugs were stored securely, but there was no designated controlled drugs cabinet during the inspection. The supplying pharmacist was due to install one within five working days.
“The service did not have a designated controlled drugs cabinet.” from the report
- 01How are staff supervision meetings recorded now, and can families see how staff development is followed up?
- 02What regular activities timetable is currently available, and how are activities matched to each person's interests and abilities?
- 03Was the designated controlled drugs cabinet installed within the five working days stated in the report?
- 04How are staffing levels reviewed when people's needs change or staff are absent?
- 05How are people's views and complaints used to make improvements?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service, including the care provided and the premises, with all five CQC questions rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 December 2017 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 Eastwood Lodge
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 22 December 2010.
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
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Redbridge
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 £1,250 a week. 75 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Sidonia is a first class live-in carer whose dedication and thoughtfulness made her stay a happy experience.”
“Charity would take Nan on holidays day trips and shopping adventures”
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.