CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Healey Lodge Residential Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Healey Lodge Residential Home is rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind care and enough staff, but unsafe medicines, recruitment gaps and weak oversight.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 14 and 16 November 2022. Inspectors reviewed Safe and Well-led, spoke with people, relatives and staff, checked records and medicines, observed care and toured the building.
People generally said they felt safe, cared for and supported. There were enough staff, health and safety checks were being completed, and the home had a positive culture. However, medicines were not always recorded or managed safely, recruitment checks were incomplete and some risk and training records were not up to date.
The overall rating fell from Good at the last inspection in July 2018 to Requires Improvement. The Safe and Well-led ratings were both Requires Improvement. The provider breached regulations on medicines, governance and recruitment, and CQC asked for an action plan and will monitor progress.
Enough staff
Staffing levels were based on people's needs. People and relatives said staff came quickly when help was needed.
“People and relatives told us there were enough staff and staff responded quickly.” from the report
People felt safe
People said they felt safe and well cared for. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse.
“People were protected from the risk of abuse.” from the report
Positive atmosphere
People and staff described a relaxed, positive culture. Relatives and staff gave positive feedback about the new manager.
“The service had a positive culture. People told us they liked the home and enjoyed living there.” from the report
Working with professionals
The home was working with a physiotherapist and district nurses to support people's health needs.
“At the time of the inspection, the service was working alongside a physiotherapist and district nurses to support people around their health conditions.” from the report
Medicines records
seriousMedication records had gaps in signatures, unclear codes and inconsistent stock counts. Creams were not always recorded when given, and some medicines were not dated when opened.
“Medicines were not always being managed safely.” from the report
Recruitment checks
seriousThe three staff files reviewed had problems. Required checks were not always complete, including suitable references and records explaining employment gaps.
“The provider had failed to ensure all required pre employment checks were in place.” from the report
Weak oversight
seriousThe home's monitoring systems did not consistently find or correct problems. Some care files had not been reviewed for at least three months.
“Systems were not robust enough or established to ensure the oversight, monitoring and good governance of the service.” from the report
Infection control and training
needs fixingStaff did not always wear masks in line with guidance, and not all staff had completed infection prevention and safeguarding training. CQC made a recommendation for improvement.
“Infection prevention and control measures were not always robust.” from the report
Risk and fire arrangements
needs fixingOne risk assessment did not reflect a change in a person's health. The latest fire assessment was unavailable and several staff were not up to date with fire training.
“Systems were not robust enough to ensure risks were assessed and managed safely.” from the report
- 01How are you checking that every medicine is given and recorded correctly, including creams, signatures, codes and stock counts?
- 02Have all staff recruitment checks and suitable references now been completed, including explanations and risk assessments for employment gaps?
- 03How often are care files and risk assessments now reviewed, and how do you make sure changes in people's health are recorded?
- 04Have all staff completed fire, safeguarding and infection prevention training, and are masks being worn in line with current guidance?
- 05What action has been taken in response to the CQC breaches, and what evidence can you show that the changes are working?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key question ratings were carried over from the last inspection when calculating the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 January 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 2020
Healey Lodge Residential Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and calm, attentive care.
This was a targeted inspection on 13 November 2020. It looked only at infection prevention and control because of coronavirus risks. The visit was announced.
Inspectors found clear infection control procedures. Staff used suitable protective equipment, had training, took part in testing and had plentiful supplies. The areas seen were clean, with extra cleaning schedules in place.
The home had up-to-date policies, audits and plans for managing coronavirus outbreaks. People were supported to keep in touch with relatives through technology, window visits and telephone calls. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Infection control
Staff understood and followed infection control procedures. They used appropriate protective equipment and had access to plentiful supplies.
“There were clear infection prevention and control procedures which were understood and followed by staff.” from the report
Clean environment
The areas inspected were clean, and additional cleaning schedules were in place and followed.
“There was a good standard of cleanliness in the areas seen.” from the report
Coronavirus planning
The home had current infection control policies, regular audits and plans for responding to coronavirus outbreaks.
“A Covid-19 Response Plan and business contingency plan were in place and had been followed.” from the report
Family contact
People could keep in touch with relatives through technology, window visits and telephone calls. Essential visitors had health and temperature checks.
“People were supported to maintain contact with their relatives in different ways including the use of technology, window visits and telephone calls.” from the report
Calm atmosphere
Inspectors saw a peaceful home where staff paid attention to people's needs and requests for help.
“The atmosphere in the home was peaceful and calm.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are staff currently trained and tested in using PPE and following infection control procedures?
- 02How are essential visitors checked for symptoms and temperature before entering the home?
- 03How are window visits, telephone calls and technology-based contact with relatives arranged now?
- 04When was the coronavirus response plan last reviewed, and how would the home manage an outbreak today?
- 05What are the current full ratings for care, staffing, medicines, activities and management, as these were not covered in this inspection?
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 questions were not covered. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 December 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.
Every inspection of Healey Lodge Residential Home
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- January 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
Read what inspectors found at Healey Lodge Residential Home →
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Healey Lodge Residential Home →
- July 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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.
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
85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.