CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lammas Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable staffing, detailed risk assessments, safe medicines practice and timely reviews of incidents.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open culture, visible and approachable management, regular staff involvement and quality checks that led to improvements.
What inspectors found, February 2024
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and strong management after checking concerns about incidents.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 25 October 2023. Two inspectors looked at safety and leadership because concerns had been received about how incidents were managed and reported. They spoke with people using the service, a relative, managers and care staff, and checked care, medicines, incident, recruitment and maintenance records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks were assessed, staffing levels were suitable, medicines were given safely, and incidents were reviewed so lessons could be learned.
Inspectors also found an open and person-centred culture. Managers were approachable, staff felt supported, and audits and feedback were used to improve care. The overall Good rating includes ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for the three areas not examined this time.
Incident learning
Managers reviewed incidents promptly and used them to reduce the risk of similar problems happening again.
“All incidents were reviewed by the registered manager in a timely manner. This meant action was taken without delay, and people were protected from avoidable harm.” from the report
Suitable staffing
There were enough trained staff, including one-to-one support when needed. Staff knew people's preferences and interests well.
“People were supported by kind staff who knew them well.” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff were trained and checked as competent. Records showed that medicines used when needed for distress or anxiety were treated as a last resort.
“records we reviewed demonstrated the use of 'as needed' medicines, for when people experienced distress or anxiety, were used as a last resort.” from the report
Quality oversight
The home completed checks on areas such as health and safety, infection control and dignity. It took action after these checks.
“Audits in areas such as health and safety, infection control and dignity were completed. Action was taken following audits to improve the quality and safety of care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What changes were made after the concerns about the management and reporting of incidents?
- 02How will you tell us about an incident affecting our relative, and what lessons were learned from it?
- 03How do you check that staffing remains sufficient for one-to-one support when needed?
- 04How do you make sure medicines used when needed for distress or anxiety remain a last resort?
- 05What are the current ratings and recent checks for Effective, Caring and Responsive, which were not inspected in this visit?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive carried over from the previous inspection published in January 2020. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 February 2024 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, January 2020
Lammas Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and the home was well-led.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 6 December 2019. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and a health and social care professional. Records about care, medicines, incidents, recruitment and safety were also checked.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found staff understood safeguarding, assessed risks, managed medicines safely and had enough staff to meet people's needs. The home was clean, and accidents and incidents were reviewed.
Inspectors found open communication, supportive management and regular checks on care quality. This inspection only looked at Safe and Well-led. The previous ratings for the other areas were carried forward, so they were not checked during this visit.
Risk management
People's risks, including health, mobility, nutrition and behaviour-related risks, had been assessed and plans were in place to manage them.
“The risks associated with the premises, equipment in use and people's individual care needs had been assessed, reviewed and plans put in place to manage these.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Trained staff supported people with medicines and kept accurate records. Daily stock checks were completed.
“People received their medicines from trained staff who felt confident following the provider's medicines procedures and who maintained accurate and up-to-date medicines records.” from the report
Enough staff
Inspectors saw enough staff on duty to meet people's needs safely. Recruitment checks were completed for new staff.
“We saw there were enough staff on duty to safely meet people's needs.” from the report
Open management
Relatives and staff described the manager as approachable and said communication was good. The provider also held regular meetings and quality checks.
“People's relatives described the open communication they had with the registered manager and staff team.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and fresh-smelling, with infection control measures in place.
“We found the home was clean and fresh-smelling throughout.” from the report
Larger than current guidance
minorThe home supports up to seven people and is larger than current best practice guidance for this type of service. Inspectors said the design and local setting reduced the possible negative impact.
“The service was bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to seven people.” from the report
- 01How will you make sure the home can meet my relative's specific health, mobility, nutrition and activity needs?
- 02How are behaviour support plans reviewed, and what support is available if my relative's needs change?
- 03What staffing levels will be in place for my relative, and how often will agency staff be used?
- 04How will you keep me informed about significant changes in my relative's health or wellbeing?
- 05Can I see the latest medicines records and quality audit findings relevant to my relative?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 January 2020 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 Lammas Lodge
5 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2020Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 5 February 2012.
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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11 live-in carers within about an hour of Herefordshire, County of
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 £960 to £1,410 a week. 10 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“She was very caring, kind and patient to all his needs, she built up a wondetful rapport with him, she was dedicated and was there for him through good times as well as through the tough times”
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.