CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Sherwood Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were effective, including testing, protective equipment, cleaning, admissions and outbreak management.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This area was not covered by this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control and safe arrangements during the Covid-19 lockdown.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 3 March 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the national Covid-19 lockdown. The home was providing personal care to 48 people and could support up to 49.
Inspectors were assured that people were protected from infection. They found safe arrangements for visitors, admissions, testing, protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing and managing possible outbreaks.
The home supported people's mental wellbeing by helping them use tablets and social media to contact relatives. It also had a visiting pod and was preparing for more personal visits.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for most of the five areas inspectors usually consider.
Infection control
The home had detailed processes to reduce the risk of infection for people, staff and visitors.
“The provider and registered manager had comprehensive processes to minimise the risk to people, staff and visitors from catching and spreading infection.” from the report
Testing and protective equipment
Staff were tested weekly and people were tested every 28 days. Protective equipment and hand sanitiser were available throughout the home.
“There was weekly testing of staff and every 28 days for people living in the home.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
The home had created a visiting pod so relatives could visit without entering the home. Online booking was also available.
“There was a visiting pod that had been created at the front of the home of the home so that visitors did not have to enter the home itself.” from the report
Contact with relatives
Staff helped people use tablets and social media to keep in touch with relatives and friends during restrictions.
“People's mental wellbeing had been promoted by innovative use of social media and electronic tablets so people could contact their relatives and friends.” from the report
Staff knowledge and support
Staff had infection control training, access to guidance and support for their wellbeing. Inspectors found there were enough staff to provide continuity of care.
“Staff also had comprehensive knowledge of infection prevention, access to good practice guidance and had attended Covid-19 specialist training hosted by the provider.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are visits arranged now, and is the visiting pod still used?
- 02How do you currently test people and staff for infection, and what happens if someone tests positive?
- 03What checks do you make before admitting someone to the home?
- 04How do staff support residents who cannot see relatives in person?
- 05How do you keep the infection prevention and control policy up to date?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under the Safe question only; it did not assess the other four questions or provide an overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 March 2021 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, April 2019
Sherwood Lodge was rated Good after a previous Inadequate rating and special measures; inspectors found major improvements across all five areas.
This was an unannounced follow-up inspection on 12 March 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and professionals. They observed care and checked care files, staff records, medicines, rotas, audits and other documents.
The home had improved substantially since the previous inspection. Staffing, risk management, safeguarding, medicines, staff training and care records had improved. People were treated with kindness and dignity, and their consent and care choices were recorded more appropriately.
The overall rating was Good. Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were all rated Good. The report also noted some areas that still needed to become fully established, including regular dining checks and recording all relevant information about food and fluid intake.
Better staffing
New staff had been recruited and staffing levels were checked against people's needs. Inspectors saw staff responding to people in a timely way.
“Staffing levels had increased and the monitoring of people's assessed needs was completed to ensure the staffing levels were suitable.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People were involved in their care and daily choices. Staff were observed speaking kindly and protecting people's privacy and dignity.
“People were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.” from the report
Improved medicines safety
People had enough medicines and records showed they received them as prescribed. Staff administering medicines had competency checks and extra training.
“People had sufficient medicines, samples were checked against records and showed people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Activities and engagement
People could take part in activities inside the home and in the local community. Inspectors saw people engaging positively with activities.
“A range of activities were provided to people both within the service as well as in the local community.” from the report
Stronger management checks
Regular audits, meetings and action plans were being used to monitor the service and respond to feedback.
“The registered manager had introduced systems that ensured the service was now being monitored regularly.” from the report
Dining checks still needed embedding
needs fixingThe report said regular kitchen checks and a consistently positive dining experience needed to become established and sustainable.
“The service needed to embed regular checks and a positive dining experience that promoted good practice and sustainability.” from the report
Weekend management cover
needs fixingOne person felt the home needed management on weekends. The management team said a senior care staff member and a 24-hour on-call system were available.
“I think we need management on weekends. You can tell the difference with no managers on duty.” from the report
Food and fluid records
needs fixingThe service said it would ensure that all relevant information about people's individual needs was recorded in daily food and fluid records.
“Where daily records were completed in relation to people's food and fluid intake the service confirmed they would ensure all relevant information about people's individual needs would be recorded.” from the report
- 01What regular checks do you now carry out on meals, kitchens and the dining experience?
- 02How do you record and review each person's food and fluid needs and intake?
- 03Who provides senior management support at weekends, and how can families contact them?
- 04What evidence can you show that the improvements made since November 2018 have been maintained?
- 05How do you use feedback from residents and relatives to change care, meals or activities?
This was an unannounced scheduled follow-up inspection covering all five CQC questions and checking progress after the previous Inadequate rating and special measures. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 April 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 Sherwood Lodge
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2019Goodup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Inadequatedown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: InadequateResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- July 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2014Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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 £1,260 a week. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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