CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Pearce Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People felt safe, staff understood safeguarding and individual risks, and there were enough staff. However, some firefighting equipment checks had not been recorded, and medicine records were not always completed correctly.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and they received suitable food, healthcare and support. The provider was asked to review whether staff learning and development was sufficiently robust and in line with good practice.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, knew their preferences and supported privacy, dignity, choice and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and records were detailed and regularly reviewed. People were supported with communication, activities, community access and contact with family and friends.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a stable staff and management team, a person-centred culture and systems for seeking feedback and improving care. Some management checks were not fully reflected in the records, but action was taken after the inspection.
What inspectors found, January 2024
Pearce Lodge Care Home is Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some improvements needed in training and record keeping.
This was an unannounced inspection on 23 November, 13 December and 17 December 2023. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They reviewed care, medicine and management records, staff recruitment and training records, and made an out-of-hours visit.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were safe, treated with kindness and supported to make choices, stay independent and take part in activities. Staff knew people well and there were enough staff to support daily lives and community activities.
The report identifies some areas to improve. Medicine records were not always completed properly, some safety checks had not been recorded, and the provider was asked to review staff learning and development. The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection published in October 2017.
Kind and knowledgeable staff
Staff knew people well and relatives spoke positively about their care. Inspectors saw people being supported with kindness and care.
“We observed staff support people with kindness and care.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were supported to make decisions about daily life, develop skills and take positive risks in the least restrictive way possible.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans included people's preferences, interests and communication needs. Staff supported people to take part in activities, work experience and community life.
“People received personalised care which had been tailored to their specific needs and preferences as much as possible.” from the report
Staffing and relationships
Inspectors found enough staff, with a consistent team and suitable recruitment checks. People had trusting relationships with staff.
“There were enough staff to support people.” from the report
Medicine recording
needs fixingMedicines were stored securely and given as prescribed, but staff did not always date liquid medicines when opened. Handwritten changes were also not always signed and dated.
“We found best practice was not always being followed as staff were not always dating liquid medicines when these were opened” from the report
Staff learning and development
needs fixingSome training was out of date, and inspectors were not sure that training on the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards was specific or robust enough. The provider received a recommendation to review this.
“We recommend the provider review the learning and development provision at Pearce lodge to ensure it is fit for purpose” from the report
Safety and management records
needs fixingSome firefighting equipment checks had not been recorded, and management records did not always show the checks and reviews that had been completed. The manager took action in response.
“There were a number of occasions where checks had not been recorded and the reason for this was unclear.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to staff training on the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards?
- 02How do you make sure liquid medicines are dated when opened and handwritten medicine changes are signed and dated?
- 03How often are firefighting equipment checks completed, and where are those checks now recorded?
- 04How do you check that management reviews and safety checks are fully recorded?
- 05How will you support my relative's preferred communication methods, activities and community access?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including an out-of-hours visit; the report says all five ratings remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 January 2024 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, February 2022
Pearce Lodge Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found safe infection control and visiting arrangements.
This was a targeted inspection linked to COVID-19. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, safe visiting, and staffing pressures. The visit was announced.
Inspectors found enough personal protective equipment and saw staff and management using it correctly. Staff had training in PPE, infection control and hand hygiene. Checks of staff practice had started.
The home had regular testing, safe visiting arrangements and processes for managing outbreaks. The report says the home was meeting the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or a full rating for all five areas.
PPE and staff training
There were enough supplies of PPE, and staff and management were seen using it correctly. Staff had training in PPE, infection control and hand hygiene.
“There were enough stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE).” from the report
Testing and outbreak planning
The home used regular testing for people, staff and visitors. It also had processes for preventing and managing outbreaks.
“There were effective processes to minimise the risk to people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading COVID-19.” from the report
Safe visiting
Visitors were assessed before entry, including checks of lateral flow test results and COVID-19 symptoms. PPE and sanitiser were available.
“The provider was facilitating safe visiting in line with government guidance.” from the report
Infection control oversight
The infection prevention and control policies were kept under review, and checks of staff practice had started.
“The manager had commenced checks on staff practice to ensure safe infection, prevention and control (IPC) procedures were followed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are you currently managing staffing pressures linked to COVID-19 or other absences?
- 02How often are staff, residents and visitors tested now?
- 03What PPE is available for staff and visitors, and how do you check it is being used correctly?
- 04How are visits assessed and managed if someone has symptoms or a positive test?
- 05What is the current plan for preventing and managing an infection outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and staffing pressures; it did not assess the other four question areas and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 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.
Every inspection of Pearce Lodge Care Home
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- January 2024Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2017Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2016Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 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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