CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Staffing was not always sufficient for people's needs to be met promptly, particularly on the first floor. Other safety arrangements, including risk assessments, recruitment, medicines and infection control, were generally effective.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff understood people's needs and received suitable training and support. People's nutrition, healthcare and consent arrangements were managed well.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people warmly, patiently and with dignity. People and relatives said staff knew them well and involved them in choices and care reviews.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and complaints were handled promptly. Activities were varied, but sometimes limited when the wellbeing lead had to help with care.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The registered manager was respected and had effective oversight of the service. Audits, feedback systems and links with health and social care professionals supported improvement.
What inspectors found, August 2022
Rated Good overall, but Safe Requires Improvement because staffing levels did not always meet people's needs promptly.
This was an unannounced first inspection of the newly registered service. One inspector and an Expert by Experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and professionals. They observed care and checked care, medicine, staff and management records.
Inspectors found that people generally felt at home and were treated with kindness and respect. Staff knew people well, care plans were personalised, medicines were managed safely, and the home was clean and well maintained.
The main concern was staffing. There were times when staff could not respond promptly to people's call bells, especially on the first floor. Inspectors also found that activities were sometimes reduced because the wellbeing lead was helping with care.
The overall Good rating means inspectors found a service that generally provided good care. However, Safe was rated Requires Improvement, meaning some aspects were not always safe and there was an increased risk that people could be harmed.
Kind, familiar care
People felt at home and staff knew them well. Inspectors saw warm and respectful interactions.
“People felt at home. They were supported by staff who knew them well.” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Managers investigated a recent medicine incident and made changes to reduce future risks.
“Medicines were managed safely. A recent incident regarding medicines had been addressed quickly and robustly by the regional and registered manager.” from the report
Clean, well-maintained environment
The home was clean and maintained safely. Inspectors noted useful outdoor areas, including seating and a play space for visiting children.
“The environment was well maintained and clean. The outdoor space had been used creatively, with relaxed seating areas and a play space for visitor's young children.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's needs, backgrounds and preferences. People and relatives were involved in reviews and decisions.
“Care plans were suitably detailed and person-centred. People's changing needs had been documented and acted on.” from the report
Staffing pressures
seriousThere were times when staff struggled to respond promptly to people's needs and call bells, mainly on the first floor. Inspectors said this created an increased risk of harm.
“There were not always sufficient staff to ensure people's needs were met promptly.” from the report
Activities sometimes reduced
needs fixingActivities were limited when the wellbeing lead had to help with care delivery. The manager hoped recruitment would improve this.
“At times, the delivery of these activities was limited because the wellbeing lead had to support with care.” from the report
- 01How do you now calculate staffing levels for people who spend more time in their rooms and use call bells?
- 02What action has been taken to make sure call bells are answered promptly on the first floor?
- 03How do you keep activities running when the wellbeing lead is needed to help with care?
- 04How is information from external healthcare professionals shared with all relevant staff?
- 05What changes were made after the recent medicines incident?
This was an unannounced first inspection of the newly registered service covering all five CQC questions, the premises, care provided and infection prevention and control. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 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 The Lodge Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- August 2022Goodcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2021
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 May 2021.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Tyneside
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 £950 to £1,140 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.