CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Lodge
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found suitable staffing, risk assessments, medicines systems, recruitment checks and infection control arrangements.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had good training and support, and care plans reflected people's needs. The home worked with health professionals and supported people with food, drink, mobility and healthcare.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff showed exceptional kindness, respect and understanding of people's histories and preferences. People were supported to make choices, stay independent and maintain important relationships.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care and activities were highly personalised. Inspectors found extensive activities, strong family involvement, flexible support and exceptional end-of-life care.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The management team created an open, caring and inclusive culture. Quality checks, staff support and feedback systems were used to maintain standards and improve care.
What inspectors found, November 2021
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led care, with safe and effective care rated Good.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 15 September 2021. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They reviewed care plans, medicines records, incident records, policies and quality checks.
People and relatives were extremely positive. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, clear risk assessments and very high standards of cleanliness. Staff were well trained and worked effectively with health professionals.
The strongest findings were about kindness, dignity, personal choice and activities. People received highly individual care, kept in touch with family and were supported to remain independent. End-of-life care was also described as exceptional.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Safe and Effective were rated Good. Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Caring improved from Good at the previous inspection, while Responsive and Well-led remained Outstanding.
Kind and personal care
Staff knew people and their families very well. They noticed small details, respected individual wishes and gave people time and emotional support.
“People said they felt safe, well cared for and valued.” from the report
Independence and dignity
People were supported to make choices, communicate in ways that suited them and keep doing things for themselves. Inspectors saw respectful support with personal care and daily activities.
“Staff were exceptional in enabling people to remain independent and gain new skills.” from the report
Wide choice of activities
Activities reflected people's interests and included music, exercise, creative work, trips and contact with the local community. Staff also arranged individual activities when people asked for them.
“There was a wealth of environmental stimulation and activities and stimulation for people, including those who lived with dementia, to keep them engaged and orientated.” from the report
End-of-life support
Inspectors found sensitive, detailed and compassionate support for people nearing the end of life. Families were involved and could receive support and stay close when needed.
“The home had been awarded a Gold Standards Framework Commendation and was one of only a few homes to achieve this.” from the report
Strong staff support
Staff received thorough induction, training and supervision. The inspection found a well-supported team with enough staff to meet people's needs.
“Staff received really well planned support, training and supervisions to enable them to do the best job possible.” from the report
Clean and well maintained
The premises, laundry and kitchen were kept to a very high standard. The home also had accessible communal areas, gardens and facilities for safe family visits.
“The whole premises were exceptionally clean and fresh, which people said they enjoyed.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you make sure staffing levels remain high enough to provide the personalised care described in the report?
- 02How would you support my relative's particular hobbies, communication needs and wish to remain independent?
- 03What activities, outings and family contact would be available to my relative in practice?
- 04How would you involve our family in advance care planning and provide support if my relative became seriously ill?
- 05How can families raise concerns, and how quickly would the registered manager respond?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions, including infection prevention and control, medicines and both the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 November 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. The report was longer than we could read in one go; the later sections may not be reflected.
What inspectors found, March 2020
The Lodge is rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptional personalised care and leadership, with minor medicines recording issues.
This was an unannounced inspection carried out over three visits in September and October 2019. Inspectors spoke with people living there, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals. They observed care and reviewed care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. It was rated Good for Safe, Effective and Caring, and Outstanding for Responsive and Well-led. People and relatives were very positive about the care, staff and environment.
Inspectors found high staffing levels, strong training, very clean surroundings and detailed personalised care. Activities were varied and tailored to people's interests. End of life care was described as exceptional.
There were two medicines recording weaknesses. Information for some medicines to be given when needed was not always sufficient, and records for external preparations were not completed consistently. The home acted to address these issues, and inspectors found no impact on people.
Personalised care
Staff knew people very well and adapted care to their routines, wishes and interests. People and families were involved in developing and reviewing care plans.
“It was clear a person-centred approach was embedded in staff every day practices.” from the report
End of life support
Inspectors found end of life care to be exceptional. The home had been commended under the Gold Standards Framework and considered people's wishes, faith and families.
“End of life care was truly exceptional.” from the report
Activities and relationships
People could choose from activities across the week, including trips, entertainment, language groups and intergenerational visits. Technology and a guest room helped families stay connected.
“Activities spanned across the whole week and included weekends.” from the report
Leadership and improvement
Inspectors found committed leadership, well-supported staff and established checks on quality and safety. People and families were actively involved in shaping the home.
“The service was exceptionally well led.” from the report
Staffing and cleanliness
There were more staff than the home's assessed needs required, including nurses, care staff and additional housekeeping staff. Inspectors found the home exceptionally clean.
“The whole service was exceptionally clean and fresh smelling.” from the report
When-needed medicines
needs fixingInstructions for some medicines prescribed to be given when needed did not always give staff enough information to use them effectively. The home reviewed these medicines and inspectors found no impact on people.
“There was not always sufficient information for staff to use these medicines effectively.” from the report
Medicine records
needs fixingRecords for applying medicines to the outside of the body were not completed consistently. The home took steps to improve this after inspectors raised it.
“The records for the administration of external preparations were not completed in a consistent manner.” from the report
Agency staff continuity
minorOne relative reported seeing more agency staff and said they did not always know what to do, which increased the workload for regular carers. The manager said the home usually used the same agency workers over time.
“The difficulty is the agency ones don't know what to do, therefore the carers have to double their work by telling them.” from the report
- 01How do you now make sure instructions for all medicines given when needed are clear and complete?
- 02How do you check that records for external preparations are completed consistently on every shift?
- 03How often are agency staff used, and how are they introduced to each person's care plan and routines?
- 04How are people and relatives involved in reviewing personalised care plans and menu choices?
- 05How would you support our relative and our family if they needed end of life care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection that looked at the premises and care across all five CQC questions; the previous overall rating was Good in a report published in April 2017. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 March 2020 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
4 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- November 2021Outstandingcurrent ratingstayed OutstandingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- March 2020Outstandingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- April 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 January 2011.
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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Most charge £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
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