CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Strathmore Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, including PPE, testing, admissions, social distancing and hygiene. They recommended decluttering some areas and increasing infection control audits.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Good
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, February 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured about infection control, but asked for decluttering and more audits.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 29 January 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Inspectors were assured that the home managed visitors, admissions, testing, PPE, social distancing and cleaning safely. Staff had enough people on duty, and testing was organised regularly.
The home was closed to visitors at the time. People were supported to keep in touch with family through video calls. The provider was asked to declutter some areas and increase infection control audits.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or ratings for the other four areas.
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had effective arrangements to prevent and control infections, including an up-to-date policy.
“We were assured that the provider's infection prevention and control policy was up to date.” from the report
Safe visiting arrangements
The home was closed to visitors during the outbreak, and access for health and social care professionals was managed safely.
“The home was closed to visitors and access into the home for health or social care professionals was managed safely.” from the report
PPE and distancing
Staff were using PPE correctly, and inspectors saw social distancing in communal areas.
“Staff were wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) correctly at the time of our visit.” from the report
Testing and staffing
Testing for staff and residents was organised regularly. Inspectors also found there were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs safely.
“The provider ensured there were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs safely.” from the report
Clutter and infection control audits
needs fixingInspectors asked the provider to remove clutter from some areas and carry out more infection control audits. The report does not say that this caused harm.
“We recommended to the provider to make arrangements to de-clutter some areas in the home and increase infection control audits” from the report
- 01What areas were identified as needing decluttering, and have these changes now been completed?
- 02How often are infection control audits carried out now, and what happens when they identify a problem?
- 03How are visitors and health or social care professionals currently allowed into the home?
- 04How are staff and residents currently tested for infections?
- 05How would the home support contact between residents and their families if visiting restrictions were needed again?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak; the service was inspected but not rated and the other areas were not assessed in this report. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 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.
What inspectors found, August 2018
Strathmore Lodge was rated Good; inspectors found kind, responsive care and improvements in staffing, medicines and records, although some medicine signatures were missed.
This was an unannounced inspection over three visits. Inspectors reviewed care records, medicines records, safety information, audits and other documents. They spoke with people, relatives, staff, managers and the local authority commissioning team.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, safeguarding arrangements, trained staff and support with food, drink and healthcare.
People and relatives described staff as kind and caring. Care was personalised, activities were provided and concerns were taken seriously. Records, medicines management and quality checks had improved since the previous inspection, although the report says some changes were still being developed.
Enough staff
Inspectors found that staffing had improved and that people were supported without the delays seen at the previous inspection.
“Sufficient staff were deployed to meet people's needs in a timely way.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
People and relatives praised the staff. Inspectors saw people treated with dignity and staff responding attentively and respectfully.
“People and their relatives consistently told us the staff team were kind, caring and compassionate.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, routines and interests. Staff knew people well and adjusted care when needs changed.
“People received care and support that was personalised to their individual needs.” from the report
Improved records and oversight
Records were more current and quality checks had been introduced. The home also had an action plan for further improvements.
“At this inspection we found that improvements had been made. Records were dated to demonstrate they were current” from the report
Missed medicine signatures
needs fixingMost medicine administration records were completed correctly, but inspectors found some missed signatures. Audits and stock checks were used to check whether medicines had still been given.
“However, we saw that some signatures had been missed.” from the report
Some improvements still developing
minorMedicine management and quality monitoring had improved, but the report says these arrangements were not yet fully established.
“This was a work in progress at the time of our inspection.” from the report
- 01How do you prevent missed signatures on medicine administration records?
- 02What checks are now used to confirm medicines have been given and recorded correctly?
- 03What actions from the previous inspection have been completed, and what remains in progress?
- 04How often are care plans and risk assessments reviewed when a person's needs change?
- 05How can relatives give feedback or raise a concern, and how will the home record the response?
This was an unannounced inspection covering the overall quality of the home and all five CQC questions, including care, staffing, medicines, records and quality monitoring. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 August 2018 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 Strathmore Lodge
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 March 2013.
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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hertfordshire
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 £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
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.