CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Locharwoods Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, safe admissions, PPE, testing, visiting and the management of COVID-19 risks.
- Effective?
- Good
- This targeted inspection did not report findings or give a rating for Effective.
- Caring?
- Good
- This targeted inspection did not report findings or give a rating for Caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This targeted inspection did not report findings or give a rating for Responsive.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This targeted inspection did not report findings or give a rating for Well-led.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong COVID-19 infection control and safe visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection on 26 January 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and whether COVID-19 staffing pressures were affecting the home. The inspection was announced.
Inspectors were assured that the home was using PPE safely, providing testing, managing admissions and visits safely, and keeping its infection control policy up to date. They found the home clean and hygienic, with regular cleaning and extra cleaning by staff.
The home supported contact between residents and families, including visits from essential carers and relatives visiting people at the end of life. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not provide a full overall quality rating.
COVID-19 policies
The home had infection control policies and procedures that were reviewed and updated when national guidance changed.
“There were policies, procedures and good practices in place to manage risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic which were regularly reviewed and updated” from the report
Family contact
Residents and families were supported to keep in contact through visits, essential carers, telephone calls and video calls.
“People living in the home and their family were supported to maintain contact.” from the report
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean and hygienic. Cleaning schedules had been reviewed and extra cleaning was carried out during the day and night.
“The home appeared clean and hygienic throughout. Daily cleaning schedules were implemented by housekeepers.” from the report
PPE and testing
There were good supplies of PPE, staff used it correctly, and regular COVID-19 testing was in place for residents, staff, essential carers and visitors.
“The home had good supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for staff and visitors to use.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing COVID-19 testing for residents, staff, essential carers and visitors?
- 02What are your current visiting arrangements, including visits from essential carers and relatives at the end of life?
- 03How do you manage staffing pressures when staff are affected by COVID-19?
- 04How often are infection control policies and cleaning schedules reviewed?
- 05When was the home last given a full rating across all five CQC questions?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19 staffing pressures; it was not a full inspection and the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 February 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, February 2019
Locharwoods Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind, person-centred care and effective management.
This was a planned comprehensive inspection over 5 and 7 February 2019. The first day was unannounced and the second was announced. Inspectors spoke with six people living at the home, staff and a relative. They also checked care files, medicines, recruitment records, incident records and the building.
The home was providing personal care to 14 older people. Inspectors found enough trained staff, safe medicines systems, detailed risk assessments and a clean, well-maintained environment. People received support with food, drinks, healthcare and their personal choices.
People described staff as kind, respectful and caring. Care was tailored to people's needs and interests, with activities available. The home had systems for complaints and quality checks, although no complaints had been made since the previous inspection.
The overall rating was Good, with Good ratings in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as the inspection published in October 2016. No concerns were raised, and CQC planned to inspect again within 30 months.
Staffing and safety
Inspectors found enough trained staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. Recruitment checks were also completed before staff started work.
“Enough suitably qualified and trained staff were employed each day to meet people's needs and keep them safe.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People told inspectors that staff were caring, patient and respectful. Staff knew people's needs, likes and dislikes.
“People were treated with care, compassion and kindness. Feedback from people confirmed this.” from the report
Personalised support
Care was based on individual needs, preferences and daily choices. Records were updated when people's needs changed.
“The care people received was person centred and based on their individual needs.” from the report
Food and drink
People spoke positively about the food. Menus offered choice and a variety of fresh, home-made meals, with support for individual dietary needs.
“There's plenty choice and its varied. The food is of good quality” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are staffing levels being managed while current vacancies are being filled?
- 02How do you cover staff sickness, and how do you make sure people continue to receive consistent care?
- 03What activities are available for someone with my relative's interests and abilities?
- 04How would you arrange end of life care if my relative needed it, given that nobody was receiving this support during the inspection?
- 05How would my relative or I raise a complaint, and how would it be followed up?
This was a planned comprehensive inspection covering the premises and care provided, with all five CQC questions rated Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 February 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 Locharwoods Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 January 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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38 live-in carers within about an hour of Sefton
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 £1,270 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“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.”
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
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.