CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Sovereign Lodge Care Centre
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that the home was managing infection risks, including visiting, testing, PPE, admissions and outbreaks. They were also told that measures were in place to manage COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not covered by this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, March 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, safe visiting arrangements and a clean home.
This was a targeted inspection on 14 February 2022. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked about staffing pressures. The visit was announced two hours beforehand.
Inspectors were assured that infection risks were being managed. They found suitable visiting, testing, admission and isolation processes. Staff used protective equipment correctly, and infection control policies and checks were in place.
The home was clean and tidy. Families were kept updated about visiting rules and outbreaks. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate rating.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had effective arrangements for preventing and managing infection, including PPE, testing and outbreak procedures.
“We were assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed.” from the report
Clean environment
The home had dedicated housekeeping staff, cleaning schedules and infection control checks.
“The home was seen to be clean and tidy throughout.” from the report
Family communication
Families were kept informed about visiting and testing requirements, including when an outbreak occurred.
“Families had been kept updated throughout the pandemic to ensure they were aware of visiting and testing requirements.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
People could visit in rooms when safe, or use a visiting pod or video calls.
“Visits now took place in people's rooms whenever it was safe to do so.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are COVID-19-related staffing pressures affecting staffing levels and people's care?
- 02What happens if there is an infection outbreak, and how will families be told?
- 03What testing and isolation arrangements apply when someone is admitted or returns after going out?
- 04Can visits take place in a person's room, and what alternatives are available if this is not safe?
- 05How often are cleaning, infection control and PPE arrangements checked?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, with questions about staffing pressures; it was not a full service assessment and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 March 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.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control arrangements during a COVID-19 outbreak.
The CQC visited the home on 3 February 2021. This was an announced, targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic.
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, followed testing, shielding and social distancing rules, and had suitable cleaning and hygiene arrangements. They also found that COVID-19 risks were assessed for people and staff.
The home had experienced many positive COVID-19 cases among people and staff. Inspectors found that staff monitored people's health, used a staffing contingency plan, and had made changes to communal areas. The home was closed to admissions and non-essential visitors at the time.
Infection control guidance
The home had COVID-19 cleaning schedules, PPE stations, staff training and competency checks. Guidance on using PPE was displayed for staff.
“The registered manager had followed current guidance in relation to infection prevention and control.” from the report
Managing the outbreak
Inspectors found that the home monitored people's health and managed the impact of a high number of positive cases among people and staff.
“The registered manager and staff had shown resilience and had managed the impact of COVID19 extremely well throughout the pandemic.” from the report
Entry controls
People and staff entering the home had temperatures taken, lateral flow testing and PPE measures. Admissions and non-essential visitors were stopped at the time.
“This included temperatures being taken on arrival, Lateral Flow (LFT) COVID19 testing and PPE being used.” from the report
Maintaining staffing
The home used a contingency plan and worked with local services to maintain staffing while many staff were unwell or isolating.
“The registered manager had implemented their contingency plan to ensure that staffing levels were maintained whilst high numbers of staff were unwell or isolating” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What infection prevention and control arrangements are in place now, including PPE, cleaning, testing and staff training?
- 02How do you support people who need to isolate, particularly people living with dementia or memory loss?
- 03What are the current rules for visitors and new admissions during an outbreak?
- 04How would you maintain staffing if several staff were unwell or isolating?
- 05How are people's individual infection risks assessed and reviewed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control under Safe only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 February 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.
Every inspection of Sovereign Lodge Care Centre
3 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- March 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2017Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2016
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 February 2016.
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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
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 £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
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.