CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, the premises, infection control and medicines were managed safely, although some recruitment information had been missing and was obtained after the inspection.
- Effective?
- Good
- Care plans were based on assessments and kept under review. Staff were trained and supported, although some refresher training was overdue and arrangements were in place for staff to catch up.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with care, kindness, respect and dignity. Staff knew people's preferences and supported their independence, privacy and individual cultural or spiritual needs.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and people were supported to take part in activities, access the community and have holidays. People and relatives knew how to raise concerns, and no complaints had been recorded in the previous year.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager, effective audits and up-to-date records. Improvements to bathrooms and other parts of the premises were being carried out, with further upgrades planned.
What inspectors found, November 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some records and improvements still being completed.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 9 and 10 October 2018. One inspector spoke with all three people living there, staff, managers and community professionals. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, recruitment files, training records, safety checks and complaints records.
The home was rated Good overall and Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm, received safe medicines support, and were cared for by staff who knew them well.
People had personalised care, choice over daily activities and support to access the community. Inspectors also found kind and respectful relationships, good health support and effective management. The overall rating remained Good, as it had been at the previous inspection.
Safe medicines support
Medicines were stored and given safely by trained staff. Records were up to date and checks were made that the right medicine went to the right person at the right time.
“People's medicines were stored and administered safely.” from the report
Personalised care
Care plans reflected people's preferences, needs and abilities. Staff knew how each person liked things done and supported people to remain as independent as possible.
“People's care plans focused on what they could do and how staff could help them to maintain their independence and protect their safety wherever possible.” from the report
Activities and community life
People had a busy choice of activities inside and outside the home. They were supported to visit local places, attend events and take holidays.
“People had access to a busy activity schedule.” from the report
Kind relationships
Inspectors saw friendly, caring and respectful interactions. Staff listened to people and understood their individual needs and preferences.
“People's wellbeing was protected and all interactions observed between staff and people living at the service were caring, friendly and respectful.” from the report
Management and oversight
The home had a registered manager and systems for checking care, safety and records. Actions identified through audits were completed promptly.
“All records and audits seen were up to date and details of actions taken to remedy any concerns demonstrated actions were completed promptly.” from the report
Recruitment records
needs fixingSome required information was missing from staff recruitment files at the time of inspection. The manager obtained it promptly and introduced a new checking system.
“There were some missing items of information but the registered manager obtained the information promptly after the inspection.” from the report
Overdue refresher training
minorMost mandatory training was up to date, but some refresher training had passed its due date. Arrangements were in place for staff to complete it.
“Mandatory training was mostly up to date, where refresher training was overdue, arrangements were in place for staff to catch up.” from the report
Communication records
minorThe home was reviewing care plans and planned to record communication needs in line with the Accessible Information Standard. This work was not yet complete at the inspection.
“The service was in the process of reviewing and updating people's care plans.” from the report
Premises improvements
minorAudits and survey feedback identified improvements needed to the building. Bathroom refurbishment and redecoration were under way, with more upgrades planned.
“The service's own audit system, and some comments from the annual survey, mentioned improvements needed to the premises.” from the report
- 01Have all missing recruitment documents now been checked and recorded for every staff member?
- 02Which staff had overdue refresher training, and has all of that training now been completed?
- 03Have people's communication needs been fully recorded in their care plans?
- 04Which bathroom, redecoration and other premises improvements have been completed since the inspection?
- 05How will you involve my relative in choosing activities and planning their care?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, and the overall rating remained Good from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 November 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 The Lodge
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 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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81 live-in carers within about an hour of Bracknell Forest
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 £1,300 a week. 74 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“I can truly say that Peter always put Dad at the centre of everything and I know that they found a great friendship in difficult times.”
“Without his support we wouldn't have been able to navigate bringing and keeping Dad at 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.