CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at New Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People's risks were assessed and reviewed, and staff knew how to keep them safe. Medicines, building checks, infection control and staff recruitment checks were found to be managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care was individually assessed and reviewed. People had access to health professionals, suitable nutrition support and staff with relevant training.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. They knew people well and used communication methods suited to people who did not communicate verbally.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Staff adapted routines to people's preferences and supported activities in the community. People were encouraged to develop skills and become more independent.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager was visible and approachable. Audits, care reviews, staff supervision and feedback systems were used to monitor and improve the home.
What inspectors found, December 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with staffing cover needed when two staff were off sick.
Inspectors carried out an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 6 November 2018. They observed care, spoke with relatives and staff, and reviewed care records, staff files and management checks. The people living at the home could not verbally communicate, so observation was the main way inspectors judged their experience.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse, their risks were managed, medicines were recorded correctly, and staff had the training and knowledge to support them.
People received care based on their individual needs and preferences. Staff supported communication, health appointments, nutrition, community activities and independence. The home was clean, and the registered manager was visible and monitored the quality of care.
The overall rating remained Good, the same as at the January 2016 inspection. The report says there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Managing risks
People had detailed care records and regularly reviewed risk assessments. Staff understood people's needs and took action after incidents to reduce future risks.
“People's risk assessments were up to date and reviewed regularly and changes were made when necessary.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well, noticed when they were distressed and responded warmly. They respected privacy and encouraged people to be independent.
“Staff communicated well with people and knew when they were in distress and supported their needs appropriately.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home adapted daily routines to people's preferences and supported regular activities in the community. People were encouraged to learn practical skills.
“People were supported to take part in the daily activities, this involved going out most days into the community with staff” from the report
Management oversight
The manager reviewed care plans and service records regularly. The report found that quality and safety were consistently monitored and improved.
“This level of oversight from the registered manager ensured that the quality and safety of people's care was consistently monitored, reviewed and improved.” from the report
Cover during staff sickness
minorTwo staff were off sick on the inspection day. The home arranged cover from another service and said it would use its own staff rather than agency staff, but families may want to check how continuity is maintained.
“On the day of the inspection there were two members of staff off sick” from the report
- 01How do you maintain familiar staffing and safe cover when staff are off sick?
- 02How do you understand and record the choices, distress and preferences of people who cannot communicate verbally?
- 03How will my relative be supported to take part in community activities and develop everyday skills?
- 04How often will my relative's care plan, risks and health needs be reviewed, and how will the family be involved?
- 05How do you check that medicines are administered and recorded correctly over time?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, with observation used as the main evidence because people living at the home could not verbally communicate. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 December 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 New Lodge
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 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.
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
At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Stoke-on-Trent
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 £1,190 a week. 93 can care for a couple. 9 years' experience on average.
“She's shown compassion, patience and a level of understanding that no other carer has given.”
“She maintained a great environment for mum both with the tidiness and cleanliness of the house and Mum and with her caring and understanding attitude.”
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.