CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lavender Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed, including the use of protective equipment, testing, cleaning, admissions and visits. They also found that non-exempt staff and visiting professionals were vaccinated as required.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not rated or assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2022
Lavender Lodge Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 13 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures affected care. The inspection was announced with 24 hours' notice.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using protective equipment safely, supporting testing, managing visits and keeping its infection control policy up to date. They also found the home clean, with cleaning schedules and extra cleaning arrangements.
Staff supported people and relatives to understand COVID-19 rules and used phones and computers to help them keep in contact. The home had enough protective equipment and was meeting the vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not provide an overall quality rating or ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection control
Inspectors found that the home had measures in place to prevent and manage infection. The home was clean, with cleaning schedules and extra sanitising arrangements.
“The home was clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules were in place and PPE stations placed around the home.” from the report
Safe use of PPE
Staff were observed using protective equipment safely, and inspectors confirmed that sufficient supplies were available.
“During our visit we observed the staff using Personal Protective Equipment, (PPE) safely.” from the report
Contact with relatives
The home used phones and computers to help people keep in touch with relatives. Inspectors also found that visits were being supported in line with current guidance.
“Social media systems such as mobile phones and computer systems were used to facilitate contact between people and their relatives.” from the report
Support during COVID-19
Dedicated staff helped people and relatives understand COVID-19 protection measures and isolation arrangements.
“The service had dedicated staff to ensure people were received safely and continued to be supported in the service in accordance with national guidance.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you managing COVID-19-related staffing pressures now?
- 02How much protective equipment is currently available, and how do you check that staff use it safely?
- 03How are visits arranged now, and what happens if there is an infection outbreak?
- 04How often are people living here and staff tested for COVID-19?
- 05How have the infection control arrangements changed since the inspection on 13 January 2022?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other four areas or the service overall. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 January 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, August 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no breaches reported.
This was the home’s first planned inspection. It was unannounced and took place on 9 July 2019. Inspectors spoke with seven people living there, two relatives, a healthcare professional and six staff. They also observed care and checked records, medicines, staffing, meals and the building.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said staff were kind, respectful and attentive. Inspectors found that risks, medicines, staffing, training, care planning and the home environment were managed safely.
People were involved in decisions about their care and were offered choices. Inspectors found varied activities, support with healthcare and good links with other professionals. The home had no registered manager at the time, but an application for the current manager to register was ongoing.
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives consistently described staff as caring, compassionate and respectful. Inspectors’ observations supported this.
“Everybody we spoke with and our observations confirmed staff were caring, respectful and kind.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
People received medicines at the right time, and staff administering them had training and competency checks. Inspectors also found staffing arrangements suitable for people’s needs.
“Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines when they should.” from the report
Personalised care
Care records included people’s needs, preferences, risks and choices. People were involved in reviews and everyday decisions.
“The service provided care and support that was focused on individual needs.” from the report
Activities and healthcare support
People had access to varied activities, trips and entertainment. The home worked well with healthcare professionals and supported people to attend appointments.
“There had been a variety of activities carried out which people looked to be enjoying and people confirmed this.” from the report
Manager not yet registered
minorThe home did not have a manager registered with CQC when inspectors visited. An application for the current manager to register was ongoing.
“The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission.” from the report
- 01Has the manager’s application to register with CQC been completed, and who is currently legally responsible for the home?
- 02How are staffing levels decided for people with different care needs, and have staffing arrangements changed since the inspection?
- 03How are medicines checked to make sure they are given at the right time and in line with prescriptions?
- 04How are care plans reviewed when a person’s needs, choices or risks change?
- 05What activities and opportunities for trips or entertainment are currently available?
This was the home’s first planned, unannounced inspection and covered all five CQC questions, including the care provided and the premises. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 August 2019 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 Lavender Lodge Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- January 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 July 2018.
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
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32 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackpool
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 £1,250 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during 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.