CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at September Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Inspectors found suitable staffing, safeguarding training, risk assessments, safe medicines management, secure handling of people's money and appropriate fire safety arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant induction, training, supervision and knowledge of autism and positive behavioural support. People were supported with healthcare, food and drink, and their legal rights and choices.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people kindly and respectfully, protected their privacy and dignity, and supported them to make choices and stay connected with family and friends.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Support was tailored to each person's communication, routines, activities and goals. Inspectors found careful planning for moves into the home and practical responses when people had unusual or changing needs.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management arrangements, good teamwork, regular checks on quality and an open culture where staff, people and families could give their views.
What inspectors found, December 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and highly personalised care, with strong support for people's choices and independence.
The announced inspection took place on 23 September 2017. One inspector spoke with people living at the home, staff, managers, a relative and health and social care professionals. They observed care, looked around the home and checked care records, staff files, rotas, training and other records.
The home supported five people with autistic spectrum disorders. Inspectors found that people felt safe and were supported by a consistent staff team who knew them well. Care plans were personalised and up to date. People were supported with health appointments, food, activities, family contact and daily choices.
Inspectors found especially strong person-centred care. Staff adapted support when people were in hospital, found trusted alternatives when someone could not use the home's bathing facilities, and helped people build independence. Medicines, staffing, safeguarding, fire safety and financial arrangements were also found to be managed safely.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means the inspection found the home met the expected standard in each area. It remained Good, the same overall rating given at the previous inspection in October 2015.
Personalised support
Care was adapted to each person's needs, communication style, routines and preferences. Support plans were available in formats people could understand, including video.
“People received care which was extremely person centred and responsive to their needs.” from the report
Responsive in a crisis
When a person needed urgent hospital treatment, the provider arranged familiar and skilled staff to support them throughout their stay and reduce anxiety.
“This showed that the provider responded in a person centred way by ensuring that they had sufficient, skilled staff to support them in a crisis situation.” from the report
People's choices
People chose how to spend their time, helped with everyday tasks and were supported to develop independence. Staff aimed to use the least restrictive approach.
“People made their own decisions about how they wanted to live their life and spend their time.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were received, stored, given and disposed of safely. Records and audits were complete and staff had suitable training.
“Medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Strong leadership
Managers were visible and involved in day-to-day care. Staff and outside professionals described supportive management, good teamwork and clear communication.
“There was a positive culture within the staff team and staff said they were supported by the registered manager.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How many of the staff who would support my relative are still part of the team, and how do you make sure they know the person's individual needs?
- 02How would you support my relative if they needed an unexpected hospital admission or another health crisis?
- 03If my relative finds bathing or another personal care task difficult, what alternatives and step-by-step plans would you put in place?
- 04How are any restrictions on food, movement or other choices authorised, reviewed and kept as limited as possible?
- 05How will my relative help set goals, choose activities and review their support plan?
This was an announced inspection covering all five key questions and the overall rating; the previous inspection in October 2015 had also rated the home Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 December 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 September Lodge
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2017Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 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 22 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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10 live-in carers within about two hours of Cornwall
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 £1,200 a week. 8 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“He had been a little anxious before she arrived, but has since stated that he would be very happy for her to care for him again”
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.