CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lilac Lodge & Lavender Cottage
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, improved risk assessments and safe medicines management. The home had also improved cleanliness and equipment maintenance since the previous inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training, supervision and appraisals. People were supported with food, drinks, health needs and decisions about their care, including where mental capacity was limited.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were kind, respectful and attentive. People were supported to remain independent, although inspectors found that some people and relatives were unsure whether they had been involved in care planning.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Staff knew people's preferences and supported individual interests and activities. However, the new electronic care records did not yet contain enough detail about preferences and life histories.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had an open and inclusive atmosphere, and managers acted on feedback. Audits identified shortfalls and records showed that action was taken to address them.
What inspectors found, October 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and effective care, with some care records still needing more personal detail.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 18 September 2017. Inspectors spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and managers. They also reviewed care records, staff files and management records, and observed care.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable training, kind care and a strong system for checking quality.
The home had improved since the previous inspection in February 2016. Earlier problems with staffing, cleanliness and other safety arrangements had been addressed, and the home was no longer in breach of regulations.
Some work was still under way. New care records needed more detail about people's preferences and life histories. The home was also continuing to improve activities and involve people and relatives more fully in care planning.
Staffing had improved
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Staff had time to respond to distress and spend time with people rather than rushing care.
“There were enough staff to provide people with support.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Inspectors found no gaps in the medicine records they checked and stock matched the records.
“Medicines were managed, stored and administered safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff comforted people when they were distressed, protected their privacy and encouraged them to do as much as possible for themselves.
“We observed that staff engaged with people in a thoughtful and considerate way.” from the report
Quality checks led to action
The home used regular audits and feedback from people, relatives and staff. Inspectors saw evidence that identified problems were acted on.
“There was a robust quality assurance system in place.” from the report
Activities were improving
The home had recruited activities staff and was supporting people to follow their interests and hobbies. A second activities worker was due to start shortly.
“People were supported to follow their individual interests and hobbies.” from the report
Care records lacked detail
needs fixingThe new electronic records did not yet fully describe how people preferred their care to be delivered. More life history information was also needed for people living with dementia.
“Some improvements were still required to further personalise people's care records on the new system.” from the report
Involvement in care planning
needs fixingSome people and relatives were unsure whether they had been involved in planning care. The manager said care plans were being rewritten with their involvement.
“Further work was required to ensure the views of people and other appropriate individuals were reflected in their care records.” from the report
- 01How will you make sure my relative's care record includes their personal preferences and how they like care delivered?
- 02How will you gather and record my relative's life history, especially if they are living with dementia?
- 03How will my relative and our family be involved in writing and reviewing the care plan?
- 04What activities are now available seven days a week, and how will you match them to my relative's interests?
- 05How do you check that staffing levels remain suitable as people's needs change?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, based on conversations, observations and reviews of care, staff and management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 October 2017 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 Lilac Lodge & Lavender Cottage
2 rated inspections over a year: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- October 2017Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Lilac Lodge & Lavender Cottage →
- July 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 December 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.
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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents 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.