CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Laburnum Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe, safeguarding systems were described as robust, and medicines and building safety were managed safely. Staffing was stretched during the pandemic, although people and relatives said there were enough staff.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, staff had relevant training, and people were supported with food, healthcare, oral care and hospital health plans. Inspectors found the service was working within the Mental Capacity Act principles.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind and compassionate. People were treated with dignity and respect, encouraged to be independent and involved in decisions about their care and daily lives.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised to people's preferences and communication needs. People were supported to maintain family relationships, take part in activities and raise concerns, although care plan reviews were still a work in progress.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The management team was visible and staff felt supported. Audits, feedback and service improvement systems were in place, although the provider was asked to evidence more clearly the support given to the service and manager.
What inspectors found, May 2022
Laburnum Lodge rated Good; inspectors found kind, person-centred care, but staffing was stretched and care plans were still being reviewed.
This was the first inspection since the service registered under the current provider. Inspectors visited on 23 and 26 April 2022. They spoke with all five people living there, three relatives, seven staff and four professionals. They also observed daily activities and checked care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people felt safe, staff understood their needs and medicines were managed safely. People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect, and were supported to make choices about their daily lives.
The home supported people with learning disabilities and autistic people in line with the Right support, right care, right culture guidance. Inspectors found personalised support, good access to healthcare, family contact and community activities. Staffing had been stretched during the pandemic, and care plan reviews were still being developed, but no regulations were breached.
People felt safe
People and relatives described the home as safe. Staff understood safeguarding, risks and how to protect people from avoidable harm.
“People told us they felt safe with staff and living in the service.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff treated people with kindness, protected their dignity and supported their choices, independence and relationships.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's individual needs, preferences and communication styles. People could choose how they spent their days.
“People's care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.” from the report
Consistent staff team
Staff turnover was very low, helping people receive care from staff who knew them well.
“Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well.” from the report
Staffing pressure
needs fixingThe management and staff said the team had been stretched, particularly when there were absences during the pandemic. Recruitment was continuing and the home had stopped accepting new people until staffing numbers increased.
“The registered manager, provider and care staff told us staffing was stretched” from the report
Care plan reviews still developing
minorThe home had started rewriting care plans with people and was contacting relatives about joining the reviews. Inspectors said this work was not yet complete.
“The service was in the process of reviewing how people's care was planned and had started rewriting care plans with people.” from the report
Provider support records
minorThe provider was visible and involved, but inspectors discussed the need to show more clearly what support the provider gave to the home and its manager.
“We discussed with the provider how they could evidence clearly the support they provided to the service and registered manager.” from the report
- 01How many staff are normally on duty for each shift, and what happens when there are absences?
- 02When will each person's care plan review be completed, and how can the person and family take part?
- 03What recruitment has taken place since the inspection, and has the home restarted accepting new residents?
- 04How are people's end of life wishes recorded, reviewed and shared with their families and advocates?
- 05What records show the support provided by the provider to the home and its manager?
This was the first comprehensive inspection of the newly registered service and covered all five CQC questions, as well as infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 May 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 Laburnum Lodge
2 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 July 2020.
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.
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.