CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Kirkley Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Risks were assessed and managed, medicines were given as prescribed, staffing was sufficient and infection control arrangements were effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found effective quality checks, an open culture and managers who understood their responsibilities. People, relatives and staff were asked for their views.
What inspectors found, February 2023
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe care and strong management, but this visit did not reassess three of the five areas.
This was an unannounced inspection. Inspectors visited on 19 January 2023, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care records, recruitment files, medicines records, audits and training records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse, risks were assessed and managed, staffing was sufficient, medicines were given safely and the home was clean.
Inspectors found managers had effective checks on quality and responded to issues. People and relatives were involved in care decisions, and staff said they were supported and listened to.
The overall rating remained Good, as at the previous inspection published in November 2017. Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were used in calculating the overall rating.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe, and staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
“People told us they felt safe.” from the report
Risks were managed
Care plans recorded people's risks and the actions needed to reduce them. Staff could explain how they kept people safe.
“Risks to people were thoroughly assessed, monitored and managed.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were ordered, stored and recorded safely. People received them as prescribed, including medicines given when needed.
“People received their medicines as prescribed and staff kept accurate records.” from the report
Strong management checks
The home used regular audits and acted quickly when they found problems. Information about quality was shared with staff.
“Robust and effective quality assurance systems and processes were in place.” from the report
People had a voice
People were involved in their care and were able to give feedback. Staff generally felt managers listened to them.
“People were asked for their feedback and involved in their care.” from the report
Staff deployment was being reviewed
minorThe manager was reviewing how staff were deployed so that busier areas received more support at suitable times. The report does not say this had caused harm.
“The registered manager was in the process of looking at the deployment of staff, so as to provide more support to the busier areas of the home at appropriate times during the day.” from the report
- 01How has staff deployment changed since the inspection, particularly in the busier areas of the home?
- 02How will you assess and record my relative's specific risks and the actions needed to manage them?
- 03How will you make sure my relative receives medicines safely and at the prescribed times?
- 04How will my relative and our family be involved in care decisions and giving feedback?
- 05What were the previous ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive, and when will these areas next be reviewed?
This was an unannounced inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 February 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, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, safe visiting arrangements and measures to manage COVID-19 staffing pressures.
This was a targeted, announced inspection on 10 February 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspectors also asked about staffing pressures.
The inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks. They found effective use of protective equipment, regular testing, cleaning, safe admissions and arrangements to manage outbreaks.
Relatives and external professionals were supported to visit safely. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give an overall quality rating.
Safe visiting
Relatives and external professionals were supported to visit while reducing infection risks.
“Relatives and external professionals were supported to safely visit the service.” from the report
Clean premises
Inspectors found regular cleaning that kept the premises clean and tidy.
“Regular cleaning was taking place to ensure the premises were clean and tidy.” from the report
Protective equipment
Protective equipment was being used effectively to reduce the spread of infection.
“Personal protective equipment (PPE) was effectively used to reduce the risk of infections spreading.” from the report
Testing
Regular COVID-19 testing was in place for people using the service and staff.
“We were assured that the provider was accessing testing for people using the service and staff.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing any COVID-19-related staffing pressures?
- 02How often are people using the service and staff tested now?
- 03How do you currently support relatives and external professionals to visit safely?
- 04What arrangements are in place if there is an infection outbreak?
- 05How do you make sure protective equipment is used safely and effectively?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; it did not rate the other four questions or give an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 February 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 Kirkley Lodge
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 November 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.
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
35 live-in carers within about an hour of Middlesbrough
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 £1,230 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“I found Alison to be kind , caring helpful concencious... Alison has a heart of gold”
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.