CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Stafford Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, medicines, staffing, recruitment, fire safety and infection control were managed safely.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received support that promoted their health, choices and quality of life. However, some capacity assessments did not contain all the relevant information, and best-interest decisions were not always completed when required.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff knew people well, used their preferred communication methods and involved them in everyday and longer-term decisions.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's routines, preferences and communication needs. People were supported to take part in chosen activities, maintain relationships and raise concerns.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found positive leadership, teamwork and systems for checking the quality and safety of the home. Staff, relatives and professionals were involved in reviewing and improving support.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some capacity assessments needing review.
Inspectors visited unannounced on 12 and 14 July 2022. They spoke with two people, four relatives and seven staff. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home supported five people with learning disabilities or autism. Inspectors found people were safe, treated with kindness and involved in decisions about their care. People were supported to choose activities, access healthcare, maintain relationships and live as independently as possible.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The home was inspected under a new provider, and this was its first inspection since the provider registered it. The previous provider's rating had also been Good.
Inspectors recommended reviewing the way mental capacity assessments and best-interest decisions were recorded. They also noted that planning for future end-of-life care was still being developed.
Choice and independence
People were supported to make choices, pursue their interests and develop their independence. Their rooms, routines, food and activities reflected their preferences.
“The service supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence over their own lives.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw a friendly atmosphere and staff who understood how people communicated. Relatives also gave very positive feedback about the care.
“There was a positive and friendly atmosphere at the home. We observed staff knew people well and spoke to people in their preferred methods of communication.” from the report
Meaningful activities
People took part in activities they chose, both inside and in the community. These included social events, sport, shopping, eating out and holidays.
“Throughout the inspection we observed people being engaged and stimulated in activities of their choice.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were managed safely and staff numbers were considered sufficient. Recruitment checks and staff training were in place.
“Medicines were managed, stored and administered safely.” from the report
Open leadership
The home had systems to monitor medicines, health and safety and infection control. Families and staff were asked for feedback, and actions were followed up.
“Governance systems were operated to regular monitor, assess and improve the service.” from the report
Mental capacity records
needs fixingSome capacity assessments did not show all the information used to support the decision. Best-interest decisions were not always completed when someone lacked capacity, so inspectors recommended that the process be reviewed.
“Best interest decisions had not always been completed when a capacity assessment had determined a person lacked capacity to make a specific decision.” from the report
End-of-life planning
minorThe home was not supporting anyone with end-of-life care during the inspection. Inspectors noted that information about future personal arrangements was still an area for development in care plans.
“The registered manager acknowledged this was an area of development in people's care plans.” from the report
- 01Have all mental capacity assessments now been reviewed and completed with the relevant supporting information?
- 02When someone lacks capacity, how do you record and review best-interest decisions?
- 03How would you plan and record a person's end-of-life wishes if their needs changed?
- 04How do you make sure people continue to choose their own activities, meals and routines?
- 05How will families be kept informed about important decisions and changes in care?
This was an unannounced inspection of all five quality areas and included infection prevention and control; it was the first inspection under the new provider. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 August 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.
Every inspection of Stafford Lodge
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2020GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2020
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 December 2020.
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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76 live-in carers within about two hours of Somerset
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 £1,370 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
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.