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
- Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using protective equipment safely, carrying out testing and maintaining its infection control policy.
- 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, April 2021
The Lodge was inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection risks were being well managed.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 23 March 2021. It looked at infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors found measures to screen visitors for symptoms, carry out lateral flow tests and check temperatures. Staff and residents had regular COVID testing, and the home had plans for an outbreak or other emergency.
Inspectors were assured about the use of protective equipment, cleaning, social distancing, admissions and infection control policies. The home was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a full rating of the quality of care.
Visitor safety
Visitors were screened for COVID-19 symptoms, tested and had their temperature checked before visiting.
“All visitors were required to answer questions about their health to screen for Covid-19 symptoms, they undertook a lateral flow test and had their temperature taken before being able to visit their loved ones.” from the report
Cleaning and oversight
The home carried out additional cleaning, infection control audits and action plans to follow up any required work.
“Infection prevention and control audits took place and action plans were developed to follow up on any required actions.” from the report
Staff infection control
A dedicated infection control lead supported staff to use protective equipment correctly, and inspectors found good infection control practice.
“Staff were following good infection prevention and control practices which helped to minimise risks to people.” from the report
Contact and emotional wellbeing
People were supported to keep in touch with loved ones in ways that mattered to them during isolation.
“People were supported to stay in touch with their loved ones in ways that were meaningful to them.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How is the dedicated infection control lead checking that staff continue to use protective equipment correctly?
- 02When were the most recent infection prevention and control audits, and what actions followed them?
- 03What is the current process for visitor screening and COVID testing?
- 04What is the home's current plan if a resident or staff member develops COVID-19?
- 05How will you support my relative to keep in touch with family if restrictions are needed?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic; the service was inspected but not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 April 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, February 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with small areas for development.
This was an announced inspection on 10 January 2019. One inspector spoke with one person living in the home and two staff members. The inspector also observed care and checked care records, staff files, training records, meeting notes and policies.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found suitable staff checks, safe medicines practices, enough staff and staff training. Care was described as kind, respectful and tailored to the person's needs and communication.
The home was also rated Good at its previous inspection. Inspectors found no serious risks or concerns and said the evidence continued to support the Good rating.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough staff to meet the person's needs, including one-to-one support during the day and extra support when going out.
“People were supported by enough staff to meet their needs.” from the report
Kind relationships
The inspector observed warm, cheerful interactions. Staff knew the person's preferences and communicated respectfully.
“There was a strong rapport with staff which could be seen when the person was singing and laughing with them.” from the report
Personalised communication
Staff used pictures, body language, signs and a whiteboard to help the person make choices and express views.
“The person had input into the activities they took part in daily.” from the report
Activities and family contact
The person took part in community activities and trips, and was supported to keep in touch with family and friends.
“The person was supported to maintain contact with their family and friends.” from the report
Quality management
The home had checks on safety and care quality. Managers said they were open about mistakes and used training and discussion to improve practice.
“There were effective quality assurance systems to monitor care and plans for on-going improvements.” from the report
Health passport being updated
minorThe hospital and health passport was being updated at the time of inspection. Ask how this was completed and how often it is reviewed.
“The deputy manager explained how they were in the process of updating the passport.” from the report
Resident involvement in recruitment
minorThe report identified involving people in recruiting new staff as an area for development, particularly if more people moved into the home.
“Where possible people could be involved in the recruitment of new staff, however this was an area for development when more people moved into the home.” from the report
- 01How was the hospital and health passport updated after the inspection, and how is it kept current?
- 02How will residents be involved in choosing or meeting new staff if more people move into the home?
- 03How will you support my relative to communicate choices, distress or complaints?
- 04What one-to-one support and staffing arrangements would my relative receive during the day and when going out?
- 05How would you support my relative during a hospital admission or specialist health appointment?
This was an announced inspection of the overall service, covering all five CQC questions, but the inspector spoke with only one person living in the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 February 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
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- February 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 25 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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76 live-in carers within about two hours of Somerset
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 £1,370 a week. 62 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
“She was not phased by anything, she was adaptable, kind & gave us complete confidence to go away & not worry about a thing!”
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.