CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Squirrel Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff and suitable recruitment checks. Risks were assessed and managed, medicines were administered safely, and equipment and infection control were checked.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed and reviewed, and staff received training and support. Inspectors found suitable food, help with eating and drinking, access to healthcare, and support with decision-making.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and relatives described staff as kind, caring and dignified. Staff knew people well and supported their independence, privacy and choices.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's routines, preferences and communication needs. People had activities, could suggest things to do, could receive visitors freely, and had end-of-life wishes recorded.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found robust quality checks, positive views about the management team and good involvement of people, relatives and staff. The home had acted promptly on recommended fire safety improvements.
What inspectors found, September 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with all five areas rated Good.
This was an unannounced, planned inspection on 03 September 2019. One inspector spoke with people living in the home, relatives, staff and the registered manager. They also reviewed care records, staff files, medicines, recruitment, training and quality checks.
The home was caring and personalised. People said staff were kind, knew them well and respected their choices. Inspectors found enough suitably trained staff, safe medicines, detailed care records, suitable food and drink, activities, and support from health professionals.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The report says it was still Good in every area, the same as at the previous inspection published on 16 March 2017.
Enough trained staff
People's needs were met by sufficient staff, and staffing levels were adjusted when pressure increased at particular times.
“People who live at Squirrel Lodge have their needs met by sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors found medicines were managed, monitored and given safely. People and relatives said medicines were received as prescribed.
“People told us they received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People said staff were kind and caring. Inspectors observed staff treating people with kindness, empathy, dignity and respect.
“We observed that staff treated people with kindness and empathy.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included individual preferences and routines. Staff knew how people liked things done and supported independence.
“Care plans included information about people's individual preferences and routines.” from the report
Strong quality checks
The management team used audits to monitor areas such as medicines, care plans, infection control and the building. Improvements were identified and acted on.
“There was a robust quality assurance system in place which was capable of identifying areas for improvement.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you assess and update my relative's care plan if their needs or risks changed?
- 02How do you adjust staffing levels when people need more help at busy times?
- 03How would you support my relative's specific food, drink or nutritional needs?
- 04What activities would be suitable for my relative, and how could they suggest activities?
- 05How would you record and follow my relative's wishes about end-of-life care?
This was an unannounced, planned inspection that looked at the premises, care provided and all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 September 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, March 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care and good management, but medicines practice was being improved.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 19 January 2017. The inspector spoke with five people using the service, a relative, three care staff and the two registered managers. They also reviewed care records, staff files and management records, and observed care.
The home remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection. People said they felt safe, staff were available, and care was kind and respectful. Inspectors found that people's risks, nutrition, communication, personal choices and activities were supported well.
The managers had identified shortfalls in how staff administered medicines. A new process was being introduced with support from healthcare professionals. Inspectors also found effective training, feedback systems and quality checks, with shortfalls usually acted on promptly.
Feeling safe
People said they felt safe, and staff understood how to recognise and report abuse. Risks were recorded with measures to reduce them.
“People told us they felt safe living in the service.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed offering reassurance, conversation and companionship. People said their privacy and dignity were respected.
“We observed that staff continued to engage with people in a thoughtful and considerate way.” from the report
Personalised support
Care records included people's hobbies, preferences and life histories. Staff used this information to support activities and understand people living with dementia.
“People's care records contained personalised information about them, such as their hobbies, interests, preferences and life history.” from the report
Medicines administration
needs fixingManagers had found shortfalls in staff practice when giving medicines. A new system was being introduced with outside professional support, but it was not yet fully in place during the visit.
“The managers had independently identified that there were shortfalls in the practice of staff administering medicines.” from the report
- 01What were the shortfalls in medicines administration, and what has changed since the new system was introduced?
- 02How do you check that medicines are given safely and recorded correctly?
- 03How will you make sure my relative's interests, preferences and life history are reflected in their care plan?
- 04What activities would be available for my relative, including if they are living with dementia?
- 05How are families involved in care reviews and in giving feedback about the home?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five rating areas, and the home remained Good in each one. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 March 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 Squirrel Lodge
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- September 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 21 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
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 £1,020 to £1,260 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“Not only was she professional, polite and efficient but she bought a lovely smile and laughter to my parents home.”
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.