CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Northam Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that risks, medicines, safeguarding, emergencies and infection control were managed safely. Staff sickness sometimes left staffing slightly below expected numbers, and the home was recommended to record window-restrictor checks.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable training and support. People received help with eating, drinking, communication and healthcare, with attention to choice and least restrictive care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors observed kind and respectful interactions. Staff supported people's dignity, personal appearance, friendships, family links and individual interests.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans and staff knowledge reflected people's needs, preferences and ways of communicating. People were supported with activities, community access and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager and systems for checking care, medicines, risks and the building. There had been recent management changes, with more engagement with people, families and staff.
What inspectors found, April 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with a recommendation to record window-restrictor checks.
Inspectors visited on 21 and 26 February 2018. The first visit was unannounced. They observed care, spoke with people, staff, relatives and a healthcare professional, and checked care plans, medicines, staff files and safety records.
They found staff understood people's complex needs and communication methods. Care was described as kind, respectful and personalised. People were supported with health needs, food and drink, activities, communication and links with the local community.
The home had enough staff to meet people's needs, although sickness sometimes left staffing slightly below expected numbers. Medicines, safeguarding, risk management and recruitment were found to be safe. The only recommendation was to keep records showing that window restrictors had been checked.
The overall rating was Good, and each of the five areas was also rated Good. The report says this was a shorter inspection report because the rating had not changed since the previous inspection.
Personalised care
Staff were trained and supported to meet people's complex needs. Care planning focused on people's routines, wishes and independence.
“Staff had the right skills, training and support to provide personalised care which met people's complex needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful treatment
Inspectors saw caring interactions. Staff supported people's dignity, personal choices and individual styles.
“Our observations showed people were treated with kindness and respect.” from the report
Health support
Staff understood people's health needs and worked with healthcare professionals. Relatives and healthcare staff gave positive feedback about this support.
“People's healthcare needs were well met because staff were skilled at understanding and planning for individual's health and wellbeing.” from the report
Communication
Staff understood complex communication, including visual and non-verbal signals. The home was also introducing eye-gaze technology for some people.
“Staff were skilled at interpreting people's complex ways of communicating their needs, including the use of visual cues and other non-verbal ways of communicating.” from the report
Window checks were not recorded
minorThe manager said window restrictors were checked, but these checks were not recorded. Inspectors recommended documenting them regularly to show that safety checks had been completed.
“We recommend audits include documenting that window restrictors were checked at regular intervals to ensure people's ongoing safety.” from the report
Occasional staffing shortages
minorStaff sickness at short notice had sometimes left the home below its expected staffing numbers. Inspectors found people's care and safety had not been compromised, but this is worth asking about.
“Staff sickness at short notice had on occasion left them short.” from the report
- 01How do you maintain one-to-one support and safe staffing when staff are off sick at short notice?
- 02How often are window restrictors checked now, and where are those checks recorded?
- 03What individual goals are being set through active support planning, and how will progress be reviewed?
- 04Have electronic care records and eye-gaze technology been introduced, and how are they helping people communicate or receive care?
- 05How would you meet my relative's health needs if they require nursing care, given that the home does not provide nursing care?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five areas, with the first visit unannounced; the report used a shorter format because the overall Good rating had not changed. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 April 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 Northam Lodge
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 2 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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.