CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ivy Lodge Retirement Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding responsibilities, medicines were administered as prescribed and risks were assessed and managed.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Inspectors did report positive relationships and feedback about the caring nature of staff.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team was visible and involved, and people, relatives and staff were engaged. However, some audits were late and action plans were not always clear or robust.
What inspectors found, June 2022
Ivy Lodge Retirement Home is rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and well supported, but quality checks were not always completed on time.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 24 May 2022. Two inspectors visited, an expert by experience spoke to relatives, and inspectors spoke with people and staff and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. People said they felt safe, received their medicines as prescribed and were supported by staff who knew their needs and preferences.
Inspectors found some management checks were late or did not include clear action plans. Some carpets and bins also needed attention. The provider replaced the bins and sent an action plan about improvements to the environment.
This inspection looked only at Safe and Well-led. The ratings for the other three areas were carried forward from the previous inspection, which was also rated Good.
People felt safe
People said they felt safe, and staff understood how to report possible abuse. Risks were assessed and action was taken to reduce them.
“People felt safe at the service. One relative told us; "Yes [name] is safe, they have been there for a few months and it's the best thing that ever happened to them.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Medicines were given as prescribed by trained staff. Staff also had competency checks to confirm they could administer medicines safely.
“Staff received medicines training and had competency assessments to ensure they had the appropriate knowledge and skills to administer medicines safely.” from the report
Positive relationships
Staff knew people well and supported them according to their preferences. People and relatives gave positive feedback about the staff team.
“People and staff had developed positive relationships resulting in staff knowing them well and supporting them in line with their preferences.” from the report
Involved management
The provider and managers worked directly with people and staff. Relatives received regular communication during the pandemic, and surveys and meetings were used to gather views.
“The provider and management team worked directly with people. They were knowledgeable about people's needs and developed positive relationships.” from the report
Late or incomplete audits
needs fixingSome quality checks were not completed within the stated timescales. Some did not clearly record what needed to be improved or how the improvements would be made.
“Quality systems were in place, but they were not always carried out in line with the time frames. For example, audits that were titled 'monthly' had not always been conducted monthly.” from the report
Environmental repairs
minorSome carpets and bins needed attention. The bins were replaced and the provider sent an action plan for refurbishment work.
“Some carpets and bins required attention. The provider replaced the bins and sent us an action plan following the inspection for refurbishments.” from the report
More detail needed in some medicines records
needs fixingSome medicines care plans and risk assessments did not contain enough detail about issues such as flammable creams and restrictions on food or drinks. These records were updated during the inspection.
“People's medicines care plan's and risk assessment required further detail such as when people were on flammable creams or unable to have specific food and drinks.” from the report
- 01Are all monthly audits now being completed on time, and who checks this?
- 02What improvements to carpets and the environment were included in the action plan, and have they all been completed?
- 03How do you make sure medicines care plans include details about flammable creams and food or drink restrictions?
- 04How will you monitor staffing levels now that managers had been working shifts to cover staffing needs?
- 05What were the previous ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive, and when will these areas next be reviewed?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 June 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, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and support during the pandemic.
Inspectors carried out an announced, targeted inspection on 29 January 2021. It looked only at infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
They found the home was clean, staff used personal protective equipment properly, and the provider was following relevant infection control guidance. Inspectors were assured about visiting, social distancing, admissions, testing, hygiene and managing outbreaks.
The home also supported residents' emotional wellbeing with themed activities and entertainment. Staff said they felt well supported by the provider and management team.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or a full rating for all five areas of care.
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home was clean and staff were wearing suitable protective equipment.
“The home was clean and staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment.” from the report
Infection control guidance
The provider was following relevant guidance and getting specialist advice when needed.
“The provider followed relevant guidance and sought advice from local infection prevention and control specialists when needed.” from the report
Emotional wellbeing
The home arranged themed activities and entertainment to support residents during the pandemic.
“There was a focus on promoting the emotional wellbeing of people who used the service during the pandemic.” from the report
Support for staff
Staff told inspectors they felt supported emotionally and practically by the provider and management team.
“Staff felt very supported by the provider and management team, both emotionally and practically.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What changes have you made to your infection prevention and control arrangements since the inspection on 29 January 2021?
- 02How do you currently prevent visitors from catching or spreading infections?
- 03How are new residents admitted safely and how is testing arranged for residents and staff?
- 04How do you make sure staff use personal protective equipment safely and effectively?
- 05How do you support residents' emotional wellbeing when infection control measures limit activities or visits?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control practices only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other quality areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 February 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 Ivy Lodge Retirement Home
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 13 December 2010.
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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37 live-in carers within about an hour of York
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. 32 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“She was always 'just present enough': attentive, available, kind and engaging, but without ever over-stepping any boundary”
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