CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Heathgrove Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, July 2022
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found safe, kind care, but the premises, activities and management systems needed improvement.
The home provides personal and nursing care for up to 33 older people, including some people living with dementia. There were 16 people living there during the inspection. Inspectors visited unannounced on 5 and 6 May 2022, spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care and checked records.
People were safe, medicines were managed properly and staffing levels were sufficient. Staff were kind, respectful and understood people's needs. People had access to healthcare, suitable food and support with making decisions.
The building was not properly adapted for people living with dementia or people with mobility needs. People who stayed in their rooms did not always receive enough social contact or meaningful activities. A new provider and manager had started improvements, but new systems were not yet fully established.
The overall rating means the home was not consistently meeting people's needs or being well managed. The previous rating, published in August 2019 under the former provider, was also Requires Improvement.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were sufficient and people said staff responded quickly when they used their call bells.
“There were enough staff on duty to meet people's individual needs and maintain their safety.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People described staff as kind, friendly and helpful. Inspectors saw staff give people time, protect their dignity and respect their choices.
“We observed examples of staff treating people with respect, kindness and care.” from the report
Safe medicines and infection control
Medicine stock checks matched the records, staff were trained to administer medicines and infection control arrangements were in place.
“Medicines were managed safely. Medicines stock counts were consistent, and audits included random checks of medicines stock.” from the report
Support from health professionals
The home worked with GPs and other health professionals. Care records showed people were supported to access healthcare services.
“The registered manager and staff worked in partnership with external professionals, such as GPs to support and maintain people's health.” from the report
Improving communication
The new management team had introduced daily handovers, regular meetings and external quality monitoring.
“Communication had improved across the service with daily handovers, weekly management and clinical risk meetings and regular meetings for all staff.” from the report
Unsuitable building layout
seriousThe building was not adapted for people living with dementia and was difficult for people with mobility needs. Some people depended on staff to take them to communal areas.
“We found the adaptation, design and decoration of the service was unsuitable and did not meet people's needs.” from the report
Risk of social isolation
needs fixingPeople who stayed in their rooms or remained in bed did not always receive regular meaningful activities or social interaction. The provider was asked to seek advice about improving activities.
“People who mostly spent their time in their rooms said they were not regularly engaged in meaningful activities and interaction.” from the report
Management changes not yet embedded
needs fixingNew monitoring and accountability systems were being introduced, but inspectors said they needed more time to have a positive impact.
“However these changes had yet to be fully established and embedded.” from the report
- 01What specific refurbishment work is planned to make the building suitable for people living with dementia and people with mobility needs?
- 02How will people who spend time in their rooms receive regular meaningful activities and social contact?
- 03What extra staffing hours have been allocated to activities and social engagement, and how will you check they are helping people?
- 04How will the new audits, monitoring systems and management structure show that improvements have been maintained?
- 05How will you respond to and keep families updated about concerns or complaints?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions and infection prevention and control; the report says it was the first inspection of the newly registered service, while the previous rating was under the former provider. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 July 2022 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, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and safe visiting arrangements during the COVID-19 review.
The inspection took place on 1 February 2022 and was announced 24 hours beforehand. It was a targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control, including the effect of COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
Inspectors found that the home was following current infection control guidance. This included visitor checks, testing, vaccination records, effective use of protective equipment, handwashing facilities and enhanced cleaning.
People were able to keep in contact with family and friends, including through visits, video calls and telephone calls. The home had enough protective equipment and said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a standard Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating, and it does not reassess all five areas of care.
Infection control
The home had up-to-date infection control policies, visitor checks, testing arrangements and enhanced daily cleaning.
“The environment was clean and hygienic. Enhanced cleaning took place on a daily basis.” from the report
Family contact
People could receive visits without undue restrictions. Other family and friends kept in touch by video and telephone when they could not visit.
“People were supported to stay in regular contact with their family and friends, who were able to visit with no undue restrictions.” from the report
Protective equipment
Staff had COVID-19 and infection control training. There were enough supplies of protective equipment and specific areas for putting it on and taking it off.
“There were enough supplies of PPE and there were designated areas for donning and doffing this.” from the report
Staffing arrangements
The provider said it had measures to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures and had maintained staffing levels.
“The provider had been able to maintain staffing levels to make sure people experienced the same level of service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 1 February 2022?
- 02How do you currently manage staffing pressures caused by illness or infection?
- 03What checks are now carried out for visitors, and how are COVID-19 testing and vaccination records managed?
- 04Can family and friends visit without undue restrictions, and what alternatives are offered if they cannot visit?
- 05When was the home last given a full rating covering areas other than infection control?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other care areas were not reassessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 March 2022 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 Heathgrove Lodge Care Home
6 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Requires improvement rating throughout.
- July 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 December 2021.
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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