CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sandiway Lodge Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about most infection prevention and control arrangements, including PPE, testing, admissions and outbreak management. They were only somewhat assured about shielding and social distancing.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were largely assured about infection control, but records and social distancing arrangements needed improvement.
This was an announced, targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 outbreak. The inspection visit is dated 25 November 2020 on the report cover and 26 November 2020 in the inspection details.
Inspectors found good arrangements for visitor screening, personal protective equipment, testing, admissions and cleaning. Families were kept updated about outbreaks, residents' health and visiting arrangements. Window visits were available, and people at the end of life could still see family members.
The home was rated 'Inspected but not rated' overall and for Safe. Inspectors were assured in most infection control areas, but only somewhat assured about shielding and social distancing. Cleaning records did not always show what had been done, and the use of staff break areas needed review.
Personal protective equipment
Staff had the PPE they needed and inspectors saw it being used in line with national guidance.
“Staff were provided with the personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed. We observed that this was used in accordance with current national guidance.” from the report
Keeping families informed
The home used phone calls, emails and newsletters to update families about outbreaks, residents' health and visiting changes.
“The provider had ensured family were kept informed of infection outbreaks, the health of their loved ones and changes to visiting arrangements through daily phone calls, email updates and newsletters.” from the report
Family contact
Window visits were available, and people nearing the end of life could still see family members when indoor visits were paused.
“The registered manager was ensuring that people at 'end of life' were still able to see their family.” from the report
Safe admissions and testing
Inspectors were assured that new admissions and people returning from hospital were managed safely, with testing available for residents and staff.
“We were assured that the provider was admitting people safely to the service.” from the report
Cleaning records
needs fixingThe home had increased cleaning and housekeeping, but its records did not always clearly show what had been completed.
“However, records needed to better reflect what had taken place.” from the report
Shielding and social distancing
needs fixingInspectors were not fully assured that shielding and social distancing rules were being met.
“We were somewhat assured that the provider was meeting shielding and social distancing rules.” from the report
Staff break areas
needs fixingThe home needed to review the space used by staff during breaks to reduce the risk of infection spreading.
“A review was to take place of the space used by staff in their break time to ensure the risks of cross infection were minimised.” from the report
- 01How have you improved the cleaning records so they clearly show what has been completed?
- 02What changes were made to the staff break area after the inspection?
- 03How do you currently manage shielding and social distancing?
- 04How are visits arranged now, including visits for people receiving end-of-life care?
- 05What is the home's most recent CQC inspection rating, given that this inspection was not rated?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak; it did not rate the other areas of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 December 2020 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, January 2019
Sandiway Lodge Nursing Home was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with one record-keeping issue about mental capacity.
Inspectors visited the home without notice on 09 January 2019. They spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and managers. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files, complaints and other records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, clean premises and suitable risk assessments. People were supported with food, healthcare, choices and activities.
People and relatives spoke positively about the staff and the home. Care plans were detailed and person-centred. The home had systems for dealing with complaints and checking quality.
The overall rating stayed Good. The Well-led rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection to Good. Inspectors found no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Enough staff
Inspectors found staffing levels were based on people's needs. Call bells were answered promptly during the visit.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed treating people warmly and patiently. People and relatives said staff respected dignity and personal choices.
“All the staff dealt with the residents in a friendly, caring way and also had physical contact – arm round their shoulders, always greeting with them by their name.” from the report
Person-centred records
Care plans described people's needs, preferences and routines in detail. They were reviewed monthly and gave staff clear guidance.
“Care records were up to date, comprehensive and person-centred.” from the report
Strong quality checks
The home used audits and action plans to find and address shortfalls. Inspectors saw evidence that actions had been completed.
“Following an audit and action plan was put in place which outlined the deficiency, how it would be resolved, by when and by whom.” from the report
Improved leadership
The home had a registered manager and staff said they felt listened to and valued. The Well-led rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good.
“People and staff unanimously, spoke highly of the registered manager who they described as a strong leader with high standards.” from the report
Mental capacity records
needs fixingInspectors found that a person's mental capacity could have changed since admission, but this was not always reflected in the assessment. The manager was asked to address this.
“We highlighted to the registered manager that, on some occasions, a persons mental capacity appeared to have changed since admission but this was not always fully reflected in their assessment.” from the report
- 01How do you review mental capacity assessments when a person's abilities or understanding change?
- 02What nursing care is now available since the home began providing nursing care?
- 03How would you support my relative if their health deteriorated or they needed end-of-life care?
- 04How are staffing levels checked when people's needs change?
- 05How are residents' views about meals, activities and daily routines acted on?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the overall rating stayed Good; the Well-led rating improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 January 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.
Every inspection of Sandiway Lodge Nursing Home
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016Goodup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2015InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 14 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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84 live-in carers within about an hour of Cheshire West and Chester
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 76 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
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