CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Pear Tree Lodge Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe and staff understood safeguarding procedures. Inspectors found suitable risk assessments, safe recruitment, enough staff and safe medicines management.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had suitable induction, training and supervision. People's health, nutrition, consent and access to healthcare were supported, and building improvements were being made.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were observed to be kind, patient, friendly and respectful. People were involved in decisions and their independence, privacy and dignity were supported.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was planned around people's needs, preferences and interests. Activities were provided, and people knew how to complain, although some care plans were not easy to follow.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Managers had clear improvement plans, worked alongside staff and carried out regular checks. People, relatives and staff said the home was managed well.
What inspectors found, October 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-managed care, but care plans were not always easy to follow.
The unannounced inspection took place on 17 September 2018. One inspector and an expert-by-experience spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff, managers and a visiting GP. They also observed care and checked records, medicines, training and recruitment files.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people felt safe, staff were kind and respectful, medicines were managed safely, and people's health, food and activities were supported.
This was the first inspection since the new provider registered to run the home. Inspectors found that the provider had followed its improvement plan. Building work was still underway, but risk assessments were in place and the work had been planned to reduce disruption.
Improvement after takeover
The new provider had followed its action plan and inspectors found improvements in the quality of care.
“At this inspection we found that they had followed the action plan keeping to timescales and improving the quality of care people received.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People described staff as caring, and inspectors saw friendly and respectful interactions. Staff knew people well and supported their independence.
“People were treated with care and kindness. People's wellbeing was protected and all interactions observed between staff and people living at the service were respectful and friendly.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were administered as prescribed, and staff competence was checked. Inspectors also found sufficient staff and safe recruitment checks.
“Medicines were managed and administered safely and as prescribed.” from the report
Choice and activities
People were offered choices about food and daily life. Activities included music, exercises, crafts, outings and individual entertainment.
“People we spoke with praised the activities that were provided.” from the report
Open management
Managers were accessible and communicated with people, relatives and staff. Regular meetings and audits were used to monitor the service.
“Regular audits were carried out by the management team to ensure people who used the service received a high standard of care.” from the report
Care plans were hard to follow
needs fixingAlthough the care plans contained the necessary information, some were not easy to follow. Duplicated information could lead to mistakes. The manager had sent CQC a new format after the inspection.
“We found that the care plans although containing all necessary information were not easy to follow.” from the report
End-of-life information
minorCare plans contained some information about people's wishes at the end of life, but the report says the new format would provide more detail for staff.
“Care plans contained some information as to how people wished to be supported at the end of their life.” from the report
- 01Have all residents' care plans now been changed to the new, clearer format?
- 02How do you check that duplicated or conflicting information in care plans does not lead to mistakes?
- 03What information is recorded about each person's wishes for end-of-life care?
- 04What building work is still outstanding, and how will you minimise disruption to residents?
- 05What is the policy for storing, disposing of and accessing CCTV recordings in communal areas?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC areas and the overall rating; it was the first inspection since the new provider registered the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 October 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 Pear Tree Lodge Residential Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- October 2018Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Pear Tree Lodge Residential Home →
- April 2018
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 9 April 2018.
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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
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. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
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.