CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at St Georges Lodge Residential Care Home
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, September 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found the home safe and well-led, with kind, personalised care and effective management systems.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 16 July 2021. One inspector spoke with four residents and three staff, and checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files, risk assessments and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed, staffing was sufficient, medicines were managed safely and infection control arrangements were suitable. People said they felt safe and that staff were available to support them.
Inspectors found that staff knew people well, treated them patiently and kindly, and supported people to make choices. Residents could share their views through meetings and surveys. The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection published on 8 August 2019.
Safe staffing and risk management
Staffing levels were considered sufficient for people's needs. Risks such as falls, nutrition and skin problems were assessed with guidance for staff.
“People's risks were identified, assessed and managed safely.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were ordered, stored and disposed of correctly. Staff observed people taking their medicines, and one person's wish to take medicines independently had been risk assessed.
“Medicines were ordered, stored, and disposed of in line with the provider's policy.” from the report
Kind and personalised support
Staff were patient and kind. People were offered choices about meals, could use the garden and were encouraged to take part in activities and meetings.
“Staff were patient and kind in their interactions.” from the report
Strong management oversight
The home used audits to monitor care and the service overall. Residents could give feedback through meetings and surveys.
“A robust system of audits measured and monitored the care people received and the service overall.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have you maintained the staffing levels that inspectors found sufficient for residents' needs?
- 02How are medicines checked now, including medicines that residents want to take independently?
- 03How are residents and families involved in care plan reviews and decisions about daily life?
- 04What infection control arrangements are currently used for visitors and possible outbreaks?
- 05What changes have been made to the paper-based care planning system since inspectors said it was under review?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the report does not give fresh ratings for Effective, Caring or Responsive. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 September 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, August 2019
St Georges Lodge Residential Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with improvements since the previous inspection.
This was an unannounced inspection on 18 and 19 July 2019. Inspectors spoke with 10 people, three relatives and staff. They observed care and reviewed care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable care plans, kind staff and activities based on people's interests.
The previous inspection rated the home Requires Improvement and found two breaches. This inspection found enough improvement had been made, so the home was no longer in breach. Inspectors said the home would continue to be monitored and could be inspected sooner if concerns were received.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs and saw medicines being administered safely. Medicines training, checks and audits were in place.
“Medicines were managed safely.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People said staff were kind, friendly and helpful. Staff supported people's choices, privacy, dignity and independence.
“People were treated with dignity and respect.” from the report
Personalised activities
Activities were organised around people's interests and hobbies. People were supported with gardening, outings, community links and contact with relatives.
“Activities were designed and organised based on what people wanted to do, their interests and hobbies.” from the report
Good links with health services
The home worked with a range of healthcare professionals and responded quickly when people's health needs changed.
“People received healthcare support as needed from a range of healthcare professionals.” from the report
Improved management checks
Audits were being used to identify patterns, monitor care and drive improvement. This was a clear improvement from the previous inspection.
“A system of audits monitored and measured all aspects of the home and were effective in driving improvement.” from the report
A medicines error had occurred
seriousThe report says one person was given another person's medicine at a lower dosage. The person suffered no ill effects, and the two staff involved were stopped from administering medicines until they refreshed their training.
“The registered manager told us of an event where one person was administered another person's medicine; the medicine was the same, but in a lower dosage.” from the report
- 01What checks are now made before medicines are given, following the reported medicines error?
- 02How are medicines audits reviewed, and what happens if an error or pattern is found?
- 03How are activities matched to each person's interests, especially for people who prefer to stay in their rooms?
- 04How often are care plans reviewed when a person's needs or mobility change?
- 05How can relatives raise concerns, and how will they be kept informed about their family member's care?
This was an unannounced inspection that looked at the overall quality of the home, including both the premises and care provided, following the previous Requires Improvement rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 8 August 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 St Georges Lodge Residential Care Home
4 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- September 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at St Georges Lodge Residential Care Home →
- August 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at St Georges Lodge Residential Care Home →
- August 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 3 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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28 live-in carers within about an hour of West 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 £1,020 to £1,170 a week. 23 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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