CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Orchard Lodge
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptionally safe care. Risks were thoroughly assessed and managed, staffing was sufficient, medicines were handled safely and the home was clean.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed in detail and staff were well trained. People were supported with food, health appointments and decisions about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff used personalised communication aids and involved people in decisions about their support.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care plans were highly personalised and updated daily. People had individual activities, communication support, private spaces and opportunities to build independence.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptional leadership, open communication and strong systems for monitoring quality. Feedback from people, relatives and staff was used to improve the home.
What inspectors found, November 2019
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally safe, responsive and well-led care, with effective and caring support rated Good.
The inspection was planned because the home was previously rated Good. Inspectors visited on 10 and 13 June 2019, then contacted relatives, staff and professionals by telephone in July. They observed care, reviewed four care plans and checked medicines, incidents, complaints and quality systems.
The home supports up to six young adults with a learning disability and/or autism. Five people lived there during the inspection. Inspectors found highly personalised support, strong risk management, skilled staff and a clean environment. People were supported to communicate, make choices, stay healthy and take part in activities.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Safe, responsive and well-led were rated Outstanding. Effective and caring were rated Good. The report says there had been improvements since the previous inspection, when every area was rated Good.
Personalised support
The home adapted care, activities, communication and private spaces to each person's needs and preferences.
“We reviewed four care plans which were all person centred, very well written and truly responsive to people's needs.” from the report
Safety and positive risk-taking
Risks were reviewed carefully while people were supported to access the community and develop independence.
“This meant people were protected by a strong and distinctive approach to safeguarding, including positive risk-taking to maximise their control over their lives.” from the report
Communication
Staff used Makaton, picture cards, technology, signs and gestures to help people express their wishes and reduce anxiety.
“People used a variety of assistive communication aids to express themselves which enabled staff to support people effectively to meet their needs.” from the report
Skilled and supported staff
Staff received thorough induction, training, supervision and opportunities for further development.
“Staff were highly skilled and very well trained. They had the right knowledge, qualifications and experience to support people learning disabilities and/or autism.” from the report
Listening to people and families
The home gathered views through surveys, meetings and individual discussions, and used feedback to make changes.
“The information from this feedback was used to drive improvement within the home and the wider organisation.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and review my relative's communication needs, including whether Makaton, picture cards or assistive technology would help?
- 02How would you manage my relative's risks while still supporting them to make choices and access the community?
- 03How are staffing levels and staff skills changed when a person's behaviour or health needs change?
- 04How would my relative be involved in choosing staff and agreeing their daily activities and care plan?
- 05How would you involve our family if something went wrong or if we wanted to raise a concern?
This was a planned inspection of the whole care home, including care and premises; people were unable to speak directly with inspectors, so observations, relatives' views and records were also used. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 November 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.
What inspectors found, November 2016
Orchard Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with no breaches reported.
This was an announced inspection on 26 July 2016, with a further date listed as 1 August 2016. One inspector spoke with people, relatives, staff and managers. They observed care and checked care plans, medicine records, staff files, training records, complaints information and quality checks.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People were supported by staff who understood their needs, received their medicines safely and had enough staff support. Inspectors also found good links with health professionals and appropriate use of the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
People were treated with dignity and encouraged to make choices, build independence and take part in activities, education, work and sport. The home had systems to check care quality, respond to concerns and support staff.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to keep people safe. Staffing was increased when people needed more support for activities or trips out.
“We found that the provider employed sufficient numbers of staff to keep people safe” from the report
Safe medicines
Staff administering medicines had been trained and assessed as competent. The medicine records checked showed medicines had been given consistently.
“We looked at medicine administration records (MAR) for six people and found that medicines had been given consistently and there were no gaps in the MAR charts.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff built relationships based on trust and respect. They supported people's privacy, communication and personal choices.
“We found that a person centred approach was taken with people who were unable to communicate their needs verbally.” from the report
Active and personalised lives
People were supported to enjoy activities they chose, including education, work placements, sport and social activities. The home also helped people develop everyday living skills.
“People lived busy and active lives and were encouraged to take part in hobbies and interests of their choice.” from the report
Good leadership checks
The manager was described as approachable and supportive. Regular audits covered areas such as medicines, health and safety and infection control.
“A programme of regular audit was in place that covered key areas such as health and safety, medicines and infection control.” from the report
Limited food choices for some people
minorTwo people mainly ate less nutritious finger foods because they did not like fresh food. Staff were working with them to introduce more nutritious choices, but this was described as a slow process.
“Two people did not like fresh food and ate what their relatives and staff called "grey food".” from the report
- 01What has changed since the 2016 inspection, particularly in staffing, management and care planning?
- 02How do you support people who eat a very limited range of foods, and how do you monitor their nutrition?
- 03How do you adjust staffing when people take part in activities or trips outside the home?
- 04How are current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations and any conditions reviewed?
- 05How are people who do not communicate verbally supported to express choices, concerns and complaints?
This was an announced comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 November 2016 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 Orchard Lodge
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- November 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: OutstandingEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- November 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 August 2013.
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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.