CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Milton Lodge Retirement Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were being followed.
The inspection took place on 6 November 2020. It was an announced thematic review focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors found good practice in helping people keep in touch with family and friends, providing activities during lockdown, using protective equipment, cleaning frequently touched areas and managing visitors.
The home was rated “Inspected but not rated”. This means the inspection did not give a formal overall rating or rated judgements for the five key questions.
Keeping in touch
The home supported people to maintain contact with relatives through garden visits, gifts, video calls and telephone calls.
“People were supported to stay in regular contact with friends and family.” from the report
Supporting wellbeing
The home arranged outdoor entertainment and helped people stay connected during lockdown and isolation.
“The provider had considered the effect of lockdown and isolation on people's wellbeing” from the report
Protective equipment
Protective equipment was available in several communal areas and could be accessed easily by staff.
“Wall mounted Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stations stocked with masks, gloves and aprons were situated in a number of communal areas around the home and were easily accessible for staff.” from the report
Cleaning arrangements
Frequently touched areas were identified and cleaned more often.
“Areas of the service which may be more frequently touched such as handles and light switches were identified with a symbol and increased cleaning was in place.” from the report
Visitor precautions
The home used signs, temperature checks and hand sanitiser as part of its infection control arrangements for visitors.
“Visitors to the service were temperature checked and hand sanitiser was available on entry.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are people currently supported to keep in regular contact with their relatives?
- 02How often are frequently touched areas such as handles and light switches cleaned?
- 03How do you make sure staff use masks, gloves and aprons safely and effectively?
- 04How are visitors checked and supported to follow infection prevention measures?
- 05What arrangements are in place for testing people using the service and staff?
This was a thematic review of infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 November 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.
What inspectors found, October 2019
Milton Lodge Retirement Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some improvements needed to the environment and weekend activities.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 17 September 2019. Inspectors spoke with six people, four relatives and six staff. They also reviewed care, medicines and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicines support, good care planning and kind interactions.
Inspectors noted some personal items in shared bathrooms, equipment stored in difficult places and some out-of-date or undignified posters. The home removed the bathroom items during the inspection and later provided an action plan for the other environmental issues. Some people and relatives also raised concerns about fewer activities at weekends.
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives described staff as kind, compassionate and respectful. Inspectors also saw friendly and positive interactions.
“People and their relatives told us they were treated with kindness, compassion and respect.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found suitable staffing levels, robust recruitment checks and staff who were trained and checked as competent to support people with medicines.
“Recruitment processes remained robust ensuring only the right people were employed at the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's individual needs, preferences and communication requirements. People were encouraged to make choices and remain as independent as possible.
“Care plans contained person-centred information which reflected people's needs.” from the report
Good leadership and improvement
Management was described as approachable and supportive. Regular checks and feedback were used to maintain and improve the service.
“Systems had been developed to ensure performance remained good and continued to improve.” from the report
Shared bathroom items
needs fixingPersonal items were left in two bathrooms used by several people, which could have created an infection control risk. They were removed during the inspection, and managers said they would reinforce the infection control policy.
“We did observe some personal items had been left in two of the bathrooms.” from the report
Equipment storage
needs fixingSome equipment was stored in unsuitable or inconvenient places, including a bathing chair at the top of stairs and wheelchairs in the lounge. Managers had plans to provide a shed for storage.
“The design of the building meant that the storage of equipment presented a challenge.” from the report
Out-of-date displays
needs fixingSome posters and displays were out of date and some did not respect people's dignity. Managers discussed this with inspectors and later provided an action plan.
“Some of these were out of date and some did not respect people's dignity.” from the report
Weekend activities
minorSome people raised concerns that there were not enough activities at weekends. The service said it was exploring ways to improve this.
“We received some concerns about a lack of activities taking place at weekends.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to prevent personal items being left in shared bathrooms, and how do you check infection control?
- 02Where are bathing chairs, wheelchairs and other equipment stored now, and how do you keep routes clear and safe?
- 03What has changed since the inspection to make posters and displays current and respectful of people's dignity?
- 04What activities are now available at weekends, and how do residents help choose them?
- 05How will you make sure my relative's care plan reflects their health needs, preferences, communication needs and interests?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided; all previous Good ratings remained Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 October 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 Milton Lodge Retirement Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
Read what inspectors found at Milton Lodge Retirement Home →
- October 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Milton Lodge Retirement Home →
- January 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 January 2015.
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
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
35 live-in carers within about an hour of Essex
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. 25 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
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.