CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Higher Park Lodge
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, personalised care and effective management, with this focused inspection finding no evidence of harm from the concerns raised.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 17 April 2023. One inspector spoke with people using the home, staff and relatives. They also reviewed care records, medicines records and management documents.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Responsive and Well-led were rated Good. People told inspectors they felt happy and safe, and staff were described as caring, available and supportive.
The inspection was prompted by concerns about the home, the care provider and staffing. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. The overall rating remained Good, although some ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they were happy and safe. Relatives also expressed confidence in the safety of the home.
“People who lived in the service told us they were happy and safe.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans recorded people's backgrounds, preferences, routines and health needs. Staff had guidance about how to provide individual support.
“Care plans were person centred and detailed people's likes and dislikes and how best to deliver care and support.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, with safe recruitment and medicine processes in place.
“There were sufficient numbers of staff employed and on duty to meet people's assessed needs.” from the report
Approachable management
People, relatives and staff said managers were available, listened to concerns and provided support.
“Staff told us the management team were very approachable and always available for advice and support.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many staff are normally on duty for each shift, and how do you cover staff absences?
- 02How are electronic care records kept up to date when people's needs or dementia change?
- 03How do you check that medicines are given and recorded safely, including medicines prescribed only when needed?
- 04What infection prevention arrangements are currently in place for visitors and during an outbreak?
- 05How can families raise a complaint, and how will they be kept informed about the response?
This was a focused inspection prompted by concerns about safety, the provider and staffing; the report says ratings for key questions not inspected were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 May 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, March 2022
Higher Park Lodge was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, visiting and staffing arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 15 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected safety.
The inspectors were assured that visitors were tested, visits were organised safely, PPE was used properly and cleaning helped reduce infection risks. The home had updated COVID-19 policies and risk assessments.
The provider had plans to maintain safe staffing during a COVID-19 outbreak. Staff also continued to help people access healthcare and kept families informed by social media, email and telephone.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give a new Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Visitor safety
Visitors had to show a negative lateral flow test before entering, and a booking system was used to manage visits safely.
“All visitors were asked to provide proof of a negative lateral flow test (LFT) before entering the home.” from the report
PPE and hygiene
There was enough PPE, clear information about using it, and cleaning of shared touch points.
“There was clear signage around the home about the correct guidance for donning, doffing and disposal of PPE.” from the report
Staffing plans
Recruitment and contingency plans were intended to keep staffing levels safe during a COVID-19 outbreak.
“The providers recruitment process and contingency planning helped ensure staffing levels remained safe in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in the service.” from the report
Up-to-date guidance
COVID-19 policies, procedures and risk assessments were kept up to date for staff.
“Policies, procedures and risk assessments relating to COVID-19 were up to date.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 15 February 2022?
- 02What rules now apply to visitors, including testing, booking visits and infection precautions?
- 03How do you make sure there is enough PPE and that staff use it correctly?
- 04What is your current plan for keeping staffing levels safe during sickness or an infection outbreak?
- 05How will you support my relative to access healthcare and return safely if they need to go to hospital?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 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 Higher Park Lodge
7 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 February 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Plymouth
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.
8 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
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