CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Elmwood Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home managed infection risks, including visitor screening, testing, social distancing, hygiene, protective equipment and safe admissions. They did not give this area a quality rating.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection prevention and control arrangements during the COVID-19-focused visit.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 12 February 2021. It looked at how the home prevented and controlled infection during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good practice. Visitors were screened, people and staff had access to testing, and staff used personal protective equipment safely. The home was clean and hygienic.
The home supported safe visits and helped people keep in touch with family by video and audio. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened for symptoms before entering, and the home followed national guidance for visits and admissions.
“Visitors, including health and social care professionals were screened for symptoms of acute respiratory infection before being allowed to enter the service.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff had access to protective equipment and understood how to use it safely.
“Staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) to support people safely whilst minimising the risk of the spread of infection.” from the report
Testing and hygiene
People and staff were routinely tested, and inspectors found the home clean and hygienic.
“There were appropriate arrangements in place to ensure people and staff were routinely tested for COVID-19 in line with government guidance on testing.” from the report
Keeping families connected
The home arranged safe visits and supported people to keep in regular contact with relatives using video and audio connections.
“People were also supported to maintain regular contact with their friends and family members using a computer media-based programme that used video and audio connections.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visitors currently screened and supported to visit safely?
- 02How are people and staff currently tested for COVID-19 or other infections?
- 03How do staff receive training and support to use personal protective equipment safely?
- 04What is the home's current plan for preventing and managing an infection outbreak?
- 05How can residents currently keep in contact with relatives who cannot visit?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the report does not assess all areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 26 February 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, July 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with the home larger than current best-practice guidance.
This was an unannounced inspection on 16 May 2019. One inspector spoke with five people, staff and the registered manager. They reviewed care plans, staff recruitment and training records, medicines arrangements and records about how the home was run.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were treated with kindness and respect, supported to make choices, and helped to develop independence and take part in community activities.
Inspectors found safe medicines arrangements, enough staff, suitable staff training and good links with health and social care professionals. The home had systems for handling concerns, checking quality and making improvements. The overall rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published on 25 November 2016.
Kind and respectful staff
People spoke positively about staff. Inspectors observed good relationships and found that people were treated with dignity and respect.
“People spoke positively about the care and support they received.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions, develop skills, use community services and take part in activities of their choice.
“People were supported and encouraged by staff who knew them well to have maximum choice and control over their lives.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were managed safely and staff were trained and assessed as competent. Inspectors also found enough staff and appropriate recruitment checks.
“There were safe procedures in place to ensure people received their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.” from the report
Good oversight
The home used audits, meetings and feedback to monitor the service and address issues where needed.
“There were effective processes in place to monitor the quality of the service and to make any improvements if required.” from the report
Home larger than current guidance
minorThe home was registered for 10 people and was larger than current best-practice guidance for this type of service. Inspectors said the design and setting helped reduce any negative effect on people.
“The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties.” from the report
- 01How does the size of the home affect day-to-day life for people living here?
- 02How will you support my relative to make choices and build independence?
- 03How are medicines checked, and how will you tell us about any medicine errors or changes?
- 04How often will my relative's care plan and risks be reviewed with them?
- 05What activities, community links and support for relationships would be available for my relative?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and both the home and the care provided were looked at. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 July 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 Elmwood Lodge
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Bexley
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Most charge £980 to £1,250 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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