CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at The Lodge
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control during a COVID-19 outbreak, with non-essential visits temporarily closed.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 31 January 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on whether staffing pressures were affecting care.
Inspectors found good practice. The home was clean, staff used protective equipment properly, testing was taking place, and COVID-19 risks were covered in people's care plans.
The home was closed to non-essential visitors because of an outbreak. The management team planned a phased reopening, with window visits, video calls and telephone calls available in the meantime.
The service was inspected but not rated. This report does not give an overall quality rating or a rating for the other four questions.
Clean environment
The home was clean, with extra cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.
“The Lodge was clean throughout. Increased cleaning was taking place across all aspects of the service.” from the report
Testing and outbreak response
People and staff were tested, and action was taken when someone had COVID-19. Staff absence and shift cover were being managed.
“People living at The Lodge and staff were undertaking COVID-19 testing in line with Government guidance.” from the report
Personalised COVID-19 plans
People had clear plans explaining how COVID-19 risks would be reduced and how they would be supported.
“People had clear care plans in place in relation to COVID-19, this ensured risks could be mitigated and people could be supported in a personalised way.” from the report
Temporary visiting restrictions
minorNon-essential visitors could not enter during the COVID-19 outbreak. Some people had to isolate, although the home used a separate area and planned a phased reopening.
“At the time of the inspection, the home was closed to non-essential visitors due to a COVID-19 outbreak.” from the report
- 01Have visiting arrangements fully reopened since the COVID-19 outbreak?
- 02What infection control measures are currently used for visitors, staff and people living in the home?
- 03How are people supported if they cannot isolate in their bedrooms?
- 04How are COVID-19 testing and self-isolation managed now?
- 05How would the home manage staff shortages during an outbreak?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 February 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.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, effective, kind care, but personalised records and activities needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 and 8 July 2019. One inspector spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care plans, medicine records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Effective, Caring and Well-led. People said they felt safe, were treated with kindness and dignity, and had enough staff support. Medicines were given as prescribed, staff were trained, and safety checks had improved.
Responsive was rated Requires Improvement. Some care plans did not explain in enough detail what might upset a person, what to do during certain health problems, or how to support their interests. One person said they sometimes felt bored.
The overall rating improved from Requires Improvement to Good since the previous inspection. The home had fixed the earlier governance breach and was no longer in breach of regulations, although the Responsive rating fell from Good to Requires Improvement.
Improved safety checks
The home had improved checks on upstairs windows and hot water, helping reduce environmental risks.
“New window locks had been installed to all upstairs windows which allowed opening for ventilation, but the opening was restricted to prevent people from falling through the gap.” from the report
Medicines given correctly
Medicine records showed that people received their medicines as prescribed. Staff also had guidance for medicines given only when needed.
“People's medicines administration records (MAR) showed people received their medicines as prescribed.” from the report
Stronger management oversight
Management checks had improved since the previous inspection. The earlier governance breach had been resolved.
“At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.” from the report
Care plans lacked important detail
needs fixingSome records did not explain clearly enough what might upset a person, how to respond to certain health problems, or how to provide fully personalised care. Inspectors said staff knew some of this information, but it was not always written down.
“People's needs had been assessed and recorded but had not been fully developed and recorded to show how person-centred care was to be provided.” from the report
Interests and activities were not always fully recorded
minorLife histories, interests and ways to support people were not always recorded in detail. Activities were available, but one person said they sometimes felt bored.
“We found that there were improvements needed with the recording in detail of people's life histories, responses to events and how to support them to pursue their interests and hobbies.” from the report
- 01How have you updated care plans so they record each person's triggers, preferred responses and what staff should do during health problems such as hypoglycaemia or asthma?
- 02How often are care plans reviewed, and how are people and their relatives involved in agreeing the changes?
- 03What activities are available for each person, and how do you make sure they are based on their interests and life history?
- 04How do you check that planned activities actually take place and that people are not becoming bored or socially isolated?
- 05How will you maintain the improvements in safety checks and management oversight found at this inspection?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions, the premises and care provided; the home did not provide nursing care. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 August 2019 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
5 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
- July 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 November 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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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Suffolk
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 £1,260 a week. 17 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
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