CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Green Heys & Kemp Lodge Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Food and fluid records were not always complete, and bedrail risk assessments did not fully consider risks or alternatives. Medicines, recruitment and infection control were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Requires improvement
- Some mental capacity assessments were inaccurate or not decision-specific, and bedrail decisions did not always include a best-interest assessment. Staff training was in place, but some fluid records and support with eating and drinking were inconsistent.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff involved people and relatives in care planning where possible and supported people to make choices.
- Responsive?
- Good
- People had personalised care plans and were supported to keep in touch with relatives. Feedback about activities was mixed, and the home said it planned to improve the activities programme.
- Well-led?
- Requires improvement
- The management team understood its roles, but quality checks did not identify the record and mental capacity problems found by inspectors. Several staff felt unsupported, unheard and affected by low morale.
What inspectors found, August 2021
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind care but risks in records, consent decisions and management systems.
Inspectors visited without notice on 14 and 15 July 2021. They spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records. They also checked infection prevention arrangements because of COVID-19.
The home was clean and medicines were managed safely. Staff treated people with kindness and respect. However, food and fluid records were incomplete, some bedrail risks had not been fully assessed, and some mental capacity decisions were inaccurate or not specific enough.
The home was rated Requires Improvement overall. Caring and Responsive were rated Good. Safe, Effective and Well-led were rated Requires Improvement. The provider took some immediate action after the inspection, including improving food and fluid charts and reviewing capacity assessments.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors observed staff speaking respectfully and protecting people's privacy and dignity. Relatives and people also gave positive feedback about staff.
“People were treated with kindness and consideration.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were stored, administered and managed safely. There were clear instructions for medicines given only when needed.
“Medication was managed, stored and administered safely.” from the report
Health support
Staff worked with health professionals and made referrals to specialist services in a timely way.
“Staff worked in collaboration with District Nurses, Occupational Therapists and GPs to ensure people's health needs were met.” from the report
Clean environment and infection control
The home was clean and well maintained. Inspectors were assured that PPE, testing, visiting and outbreak arrangements were in place.
“The home was clean and well maintained. Infection control arrangements were in place to prevent and mitigate the risk of COVID-19.” from the report
Incomplete food and fluid records
seriousRecords did not always show what people had eaten or drunk. This created a risk for people needing support with diabetes, weight loss or hydration.
“Records in relation to people's food and fluid intake were not always completed accurately or in full which put people at risk of unsafe care.” from the report
Bedrail and consent decisions
seriousSome bedrail assessments did not fully record the risk of entrapment or consider alternatives. Mental capacity assessments were sometimes inaccurate or not specific to the decision being made.
“Not all decisions had been assessed in accordance with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.” from the report
Weak quality checks
seriousThe home's audits did not identify the record-keeping and consent problems found during the inspection. This meant management could not be fully assured that care was safe.
“Quality assurance procedures did not always highlight areas of improvement in service provision.” from the report
Staff morale and support
needs fixingSeveral staff said they felt unsupported, unable to raise concerns or not listened to. Inspectors recommended getting advice about staff engagement and support.
“Most of the staff we spoke with said they felt unable to raise concerns and did not always feel listened to.” from the report
Mixed activities and food feedback
minorPeople gave mixed views about activities, with some describing them as non-existent. Feedback about food and menu choice was also mixed, although changes were planned.
“We received mixed responses with regards to the activities on offer at the home.” from the report
- 01How are you now recording exactly what each person eats and drinks, and how do you check these records?
- 02How do you assess the risks and alternatives before using bedrails?
- 03How do you make and record decision-specific mental capacity and best-interest assessments?
- 04What has changed to improve staff morale and make sure staff can raise concerns safely?
- 05What activities and menu choices are now available, and how have people been involved in deciding them?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC key questions, with particular attention to infection control and concerns about people's weight and pressure area care. This explanation was written from the published report of 27 August 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 Green Heys & Kemp Lodge Care Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- August 2021Requires improvementcurrent ratingstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Green Heys & Kemp Lodge Care Home →
- March 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2018Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2017Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: InadequateWell-led: Inadequate
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 29 October 2020.
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
38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
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 £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.