CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Falcon Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found robust safeguarding arrangements, thorough risk assessments, enough staff and safe medicines management. They noted lifting flooring in two bathrooms and worn kitchen units that could make infection control more difficult.
- Effective?
- Good
- Assessments and care plans were detailed and regularly reviewed. Staff received induction, training and supervision, and people were supported with food, weight management and healthcare.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff knew people well and had positive relationships with them. Inspectors saw respectful support that promoted privacy, dignity, choice and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was tailored to autism, communication needs, routines and sensory preferences. People had planned activities, community access and opportunities to develop skills and maintain relationships.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found strong leadership, an open culture and systems for checking quality and learning from incidents. The home had National Autistic Society accreditation and involved people, relatives and staff in feedback.
What inspectors found, June 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some bathroom and kitchen maintenance issues noted.
This was a planned, unannounced inspection on 9 March 2020. One inspector spoke with two people using the service, six staff members and two relatives. They also reviewed care records, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home supported five people with learning disabilities and/or autism. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices. Care plans were detailed and tailored to people's communication, sensory and daily living needs. People were supported to take part in activities, use community facilities and develop independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating and the same rating for each area as at the previous inspection, published on 16 August 2017.
Personalised autism support
Care plans included detailed information about communication, routines, preferences and sensory needs. Staff used this information to provide individual support.
“Care plans included an autism profile which detailed people's preferences from what they liked to be called to their routines and any challenges.” from the report
Safety and medicines
Risks were assessed and reviewed, staffing levels were sufficient and medicines were checked regularly. Staff completed competency checks before administering medicines.
“Risks associated with people's needs and environment were thoroughly assessed and measures put in place to minimise residual risks.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their privacy, dignity, choices and independence. Relatives gave positive feedback about the care.
“We saw constant appropriate and respectful interactions between staff and people and without exception, staff reflected on people with fondness.” from the report
Activities and independence
People took part in activities at home and in the community. Staff supported people to travel, go on holidays and gain new skills at their own pace.
“The registered manager strived to ensure that people could take an active role in their community and achieve fulfilling lives.” from the report
Bathroom flooring
needs fixingFlooring was lifting at the side of two bathrooms. Inspectors said this created areas that were difficult to clean and could increase the risk of bacteria spreading.
“In two of the bathrooms there was flooring lifting at the side of the room, this presents difficult to clean areas and a risk to preventing the spread of bacteria.” from the report
Kitchen condition
needs fixingThe kitchen was clean but worn, with some doors missing and old or damaged units and surfaces. A refurbishment was planned shortly after the inspection.
“The kitchen was worn and had some doors missing. Though very clean, the old and damaged units and surfaces could pose an infection control risk, however, the kitchen was being refurbished shortly after our inspection.” from the report
Pending authorisations
minorApplications had been made for deprivation of liberty authorisations, but they had not yet been agreed at the time of inspection. Inspectors found appropriate records of the actions taken so far.
“DoLS authorisations had been applied for and assessments made to support them. The authorisations had yet to be agreed, however, appropriate records of actions to date were in place.” from the report
- 01Has the lifting flooring in the two bathrooms been repaired, and how is it now checked?
- 02Was the planned kitchen refurbishment completed, and what changes were made?
- 03Have the outstanding deprivation of liberty authorisations now been agreed?
- 04How will you keep my relative's autism profile and sensory assessment up to date?
- 05How will my relative be supported to take part in activities and develop independence?
This was a planned inspection covering all five rating areas, and all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 June 2020 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, August 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management.
This was a comprehensive inspection on 11 and 13 July 2017. The first visit was unannounced. Inspectors spoke with one person, five staff, managers, two relatives and a healthcare professional. They also observed care and checked records.
The home supported five people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found enough suitably recruited staff, safe medicines arrangements, personalised care plans and good support for people’s health, nutrition and choices.
Staff knew people well and encouraged independence, family contact and community activities. Inspectors also found good quality checks and an open approach to concerns and complaints.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It remained Good since the previous inspection.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were deployed flexibly and regular bank staff were used instead of agency staff when needed.
“We observed staff provided one to one support where needed, and they were quick to respond when people needed support.” from the report
Kind relationships
Staff knew people well and supported them in a calm, respectful way. Relatives described the atmosphere as caring and relaxed.
“Staff and people who lived at the service were clearly at ease with each other and we witnessed friendly and caring interactions with a lot of laughter.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded what mattered to each person and what they could do for themselves. Staff supported individual communication, choices and independence.
“These plans helped to guide staff to support people appropriately, maintaining as much independence as possible.” from the report
Good health support
People had health action plans and staff worked with several specialist health professionals. Nutritional risks, including choking, were assessed and managed.
“People were supported to maintain good health as staff worked effectively with specialist health care professionals” from the report
Strong management checks
The home had regular audits covering the five inspection areas. Inspectors found that changes were made when improvements were identified.
“There were good quality assurance processes in place.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and manage my relative’s individual risks, including any risks when eating or using community facilities?
- 02How will you provide one-to-one support if staffing changes or someone is absent?
- 03How will you support my relative’s preferred way of communicating and making choices?
- 04How will you involve our family in care planning, visits and reviews?
- 05What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the report says the Good ratings remained unchanged from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 August 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 Falcon Lodge
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 July 2014.
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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26 live-in carers within about an hour of Hampshire
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 £1,260 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 14 years' experience on average.
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“He stayed with her throughout the pandemic, refusing to visit his own family, who lived nearby, to reduce the risk of infection.”
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