CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lee House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and person-centred care, with some staffing pressures and a mental capacity record needing review.
This was a comprehensive inspection. One inspector visited on 28 June and 18 July 2018, with the first visit unannounced. The inspector spoke with 10 people, four staff and seven relatives or friends, and reviewed care records, staff files, medicines records and complaints information.
The home supported 24 older people, although it could accommodate up to 27. Inspectors found people were treated with kindness and respect. Care plans were detailed and regularly reviewed. Medicines, safeguarding, risks, cleanliness and emergency arrangements were managed safely.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home was also rated Good at its previous inspection in January 2016, so the overall rating had not changed.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives consistently described staff as kind, friendly and respectful. Inspectors also saw staff checking people's wishes before providing support.
“Our observations were that staff were kind, caring and compassionate.” from the report
Personalised care plans
Care plans included people's needs, preferences, interests and dislikes. Staff knew the people they supported and updated plans when needs changed.
“Care plans fully addressed people's care and support needs and contained good information about the person's care and their personal preferences.” from the report
Safe medicines and risk management
Risks were assessed and reviewed, including after accidents. Medicines were stored securely, given safely and recorded accurately.
“People received their medicines safely and on time from staff who were trained to manage medicines safely.” from the report
Activities and choice
People could take part in activities based on their interests, including exercise, quizzes, music and trips into the community. People were also supported to make everyday choices.
“A dedicated co-ordinator provided activities five days a week and at weekends when required.” from the report
Positive leadership
The manager and senior staff were described as approachable and supportive. Quality checks, surveys and reviews were used to identify and address issues.
“There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service being provided.” from the report
Staffing and recruitment
minorRecruitment was ongoing, and some people said staffing had been short in the past or could vary when staff called in sick. Staffing levels had increased in April 2018 to respond to changing needs.
“Numbers vary. They have been short staffed in the past” from the report
Mental capacity records
needs fixingOne mental capacity assessment was generic and did not fully cover the specific decision involved. The manager agreed to review the assessments.
“Written mental capacity assessments completed for one person seen during the inspection were found to be generic in content and did not fully address a specific decision.” from the report
- 01How many care staff are usually on duty for each shift, and how do you cover sickness or vacancies?
- 02What action was taken to review the generic mental capacity assessment identified by inspectors?
- 03How are people's care plans and risk assessments updated when their needs change?
- 04Which activities are available now, and how are residents' preferences used to plan them?
- 05How can residents and relatives raise a complaint, and how will they be told what action was taken?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, with visits on 28 June and 18 July 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 August 2018 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 Lee House
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 March 2011.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Merton
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She cared for my mum with Alzheimer's with endless patience and kindness, always arriving with a smile and a positive attitude”
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at home.”
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.