CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Sands Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People told inspectors they felt safe. Staff had safeguarding training, recruitment checks were completed, risks were assessed and medicines were administered by trained staff.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs and choices were assessed and reviewed. Staff received induction, training, supervision and appraisals, and people were supported with food, health care and legal consent processes.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People had key workers, were involved in care decisions and were supported to maintain their independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. People were supported with communication, relationships, interests, activities, holidays and complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found an open and positive management structure. Regular meetings, feedback, audits and checks were used to monitor and improve the service.
What inspectors found, December 2019
Sands Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 20 November 2019. One inspector spoke with eight people, observed care, spoke with the manager and three care workers, and reviewed care files, medicine records, audits and staff files.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they were happy and felt safe. Inspectors found suitable staffing, trained staff, safe medicine processes and a clean, well-maintained home.
People were involved in their care and daily choices. They were supported with health appointments, meals, activities, holidays, relationships and community life. Staff were described as kind and respectful, and the home had systems to monitor quality and respond to complaints.
People felt happy
People told inspectors they were happy living at the home and had positive relationships with staff.
“People told us they were happy living at the service.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
The home used recruitment checks, trained staff and medicine audits. Inspectors found that medicines were given safely.
“People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed.” from the report
Choice and community life
People were supported to follow their interests, attend college and church, go on trips and take holidays.
“People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities.” from the report
Good oversight
The manager and provider used regular audits, meetings and feedback to monitor the quality of care and make changes.
“Regular audits were completed on all aspects of the service giving the registered manager and provider a good oversight.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and review my relative's mental health needs and personal risks?
- 02How would you support my relative if they wanted to manage some medicines themselves?
- 03How often would my relative's care plan be reviewed, and how would they be involved?
- 04Which college, community, social and holiday activities could my relative take part in?
- 05How would you support my relative to make choices if they had difficulty understanding a decision?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions; the previous comprehensive inspection in 2017 was also rated Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 December 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, June 2017
Sands Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with the previous Good rating maintained.
This was an unannounced inspection on 15 May 2017. One inspector spoke with seven people, the manager and care staff. They reviewed five care files, three staff recruitment files, support records, audits and policies, as well as earlier information held by the CQC.
The home supported up to 18 people with mental health issues, and all 18 places were occupied during the inspection. Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, safe medicines systems, trained staff and support with healthcare, food and people's rights.
People were described as being treated kindly and with respect. Care was personalised and regularly reviewed. People and relatives were involved in care planning, could take part in activities of their choice, and could raise complaints. Systems for checking quality were in place. All five areas were rated Good, as they had been at the previous inspection.
Safe staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs, including support with community access and appointments. Recruitment files contained interviews, references, identity checks and DBS checks.
“People we spoke with told us that there were enough staff available to support their needs.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Medicines were stored, ordered and recorded safely. Staff were trained, and people were supported to work towards managing their own medicines where appropriate.
“People received their medication safely and as prescribed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff had positive relationships with people and supported them to make choices about their time, maintain relationships and build independence.
“Staff treated people with dignity and respect and supported them in spending their time in the way they chose.” from the report
Personalised support
People had individual care plans and key workers. The home involved people and relatives in planning and reviewed care when needs changed.
“People continued to receive care that was individual and personalised to their needs.” from the report
Activities and community life
People were supported to follow their interests, attend clubs and groups, visit friends and family, go to college and take holidays.
“People were supported with social activities of their choice, these included attending local clubs and church groups for social activities.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative to manage their medicines safely, and could they work towards taking them independently?
- 02How would you assess and review my relative's risks while helping them remain independent?
- 03What activities, appointments and community opportunities could you support my relative to take part in?
- 04How would my relative and our family be involved in writing and reviewing the care plan?
- 05How do people raise complaints, and how would you keep us informed about the response?
This was an unannounced inspection covering the overall service and all five key questions, with the previous Good ratings reviewed and maintained. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 June 2017 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 Sands Lodge
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 December 2010.
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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51 live-in carers within about an hour of Southend-on-Sea
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 £960 to £1,200 a week. 44 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She brought fun and stimulation into mums life.”
“She was always cheerful and looking for ways to stimulate my mother. She became her "friend" and provided best care always.”
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.