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CQC report explained · a residential care home

What the CQC found at Parkbrook Lodge

Goodpublished 16 February 2022, 4 years ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.

The five questions inspectors ask
Safe?
Good
Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe systems for medicines, effective infection control and staff who understood safeguarding and risk management.
Effective?
Good
This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
Caring?
Good
This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
Responsive?
Good
This question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
Well-led?
Good
Inspectors found approachable management, an open culture and good involvement of people, relatives and other professionals in reviews and improvements.
The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, February 2022

Parkbrook Lodge rated Good; inspectors found people were safe, supported to make choices and the home was well led.

This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 20 January 2022. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care plans, risk assessments, medicines, recruitment records and management records.

The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicines systems, good infection control and staff who understood how to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm.

People were supported to make choices, take positive risks and be as independent as possible. Relatives said they were involved in care decisions and felt people were safe and well supported.

What inspectors praised
  • Choice and independence

    People were supported to make choices about their home, privacy, activities and personal goals. This included support to take positive risks safely.

    “People had a choice and control about living safely in their living environment.” from the report
  • Infection control

    The home had effective arrangements for cleanliness, testing, personal protective equipment, visiting and managing possible infection outbreaks.

    “The provider used effective infection, prevention and control measures to keep people safe, and staff supported people to follow them.” from the report
  • Open management

    Staff and relatives said managers were approachable. People and those important to them were involved in decisions, meetings, reviews and suggestions for improvement.

    “Management were visible in the service, approachable and took a genuine interest in what people, staff, family, advocates and other professionals had to say.” from the report
  • Working with others

    The home worked with health, social care and disability organisations to support people's safety, health and wellbeing.

    “The provider worked well in partnership with health and social care organisations, which helped to give people using the service a voice and improve their wellbeing.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about
  • Medicine paperwork

    minor

    A recent external audit had identified that allergies needed to be highlighted on medicine paperwork. Inspectors saw that this had been completed, so it was not left as an outstanding issue.

    “an improvement was identified to highlight allergies on the medication paperwork.” from the report
Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How will you use my relative's preferred communication method when explaining risks, choices and care?
  2. 02How many staff will be available for my relative's one-to-one activities, visits and personal goals?
  3. 03How do you record and check allergies on medicine paperwork now?
  4. 04How will you involve me and my relative in care reviews, meetings and decisions?
  5. 05What is the current position on the planned sensory room and vegetable plot?

This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 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.

An earlier report, explained

What inspectors found, April 2018

Parkbrook Lodge is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care with effective management.

Inspectors carried out a comprehensive, unannounced inspection on 7 March 2018. They observed care, spoke with five people, four relatives and staff, and reviewed care, staff and management records.

The home supported 11 people with learning disabilities and autism. Inspectors found people were safe, received their medicines properly, and were supported by trained staff. People were helped to make choices, stay independent, take part in activities and maintain relationships.

All five areas were rated Good: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. This was the same overall rating as at the previous inspection. The report says there was no evidence of serious risks or concerns.

What inspectors praised
  • Safe medicines

    Inspectors found that medicines were stored securely and given when needed. Staff were trained and records were checked regularly.

    “People received their medicines when needed. We saw that medicines were stored securely and staff were trained and monitored to ensure they followed safe practice.” from the report
  • Kind relationships

    People appeared comfortable with staff. Staff were patient, encouraging and respectful, including when people needed reassurance or help to communicate.

    “We saw that people trusted the staff and had genuine, caring relationships with them.” from the report
  • Personalised support

    People's care was based on their individual needs, preferences and interests. They were supported to take part in activities and make choices about daily life.

    “People received personalised care that met their individual needs.” from the report
  • Good oversight

    The home had systems to check care quality and safety. Accidents, medicines and the environment were monitored, with improvements followed up.

    “There were clear and effective governance arrangements at the service.” from the report
What inspectors were concerned about

Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.

Questions to ask them, based on this report
  1. 01How are each person's communication methods, such as picture cards, used and reviewed?
  2. 02How are staffing levels adjusted when people's activities or plans change?
  3. 03How are relatives involved in monthly keyworker reviews and decisions about care?
  4. 04How are complaints and 'See something, say something' cards recorded and followed up?
  5. 05What support would be available if someone needed end of life care, as this was not assessed in the report?

This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five rating areas; end of life care was not assessed because the home was not supporting people with it at the time. 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Parkbrook Lodge

3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

  1. February 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Parkbrook Lodge →

  2. April 2018Goodstayed Good
    Safe: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read what inspectors found at Parkbrook Lodge →

  3. March 2016Good
    Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good

    Read this report on cqc.org.uk

  4. July 2014

    Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 July 2014.

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.

Next steps

Weigh the report against the rest

Care at home

At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Staffordshire

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 £1,230 a week. 85 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.

“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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