CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at The Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, with some best-practice guidance and record keeping still needing development.
This was an unannounced inspection on 29 January 2020. One inspector observed care, spoke with staff and a family member, contacted three relatives, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home supported six people with learning disabilities and/or autism, and could support up to six. Inspectors found people appeared relaxed, safe and well cared for. Staff knew people well, treated them with dignity, and supported communication, choice and independence.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The rating was unchanged from the previous inspection, published in May 2017. Inspectors recommended more work on some best-practice guidance, behaviour support planning and recording staff debriefs after incidents.
Kind, respectful staff
Staff knew people well and used warm, individual approaches. People appeared relaxed and interactions were positive.
“Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect.” from the report
Personalised communication
Staff recognised people's individual signs, sounds and gestures, helping people express their wishes and be heard.
“Staff supported people's communication needs effectively and continuously looked to learn more about people's individual 'language'.” from the report
Supporting independence
Support focused on helping people build skills, take part in education and move towards more independent living where possible.
“People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills.” from the report
Good partnership working
The home worked with health and social care professionals to support people's health and wellbeing. Families and professionals gave positive feedback.
“The service worked effectively with a variety of health and social care professionals to ensure people's health needs were met” from the report
Community involvement
People took part in neighbourhood activities and events, helping them stay connected with the local community.
“The service actively linked in with the local community, to promote people's good integration into the neighbourhood and reduce isolation.” from the report
Best-practice guidance
needs fixingThe home was not aware of Registering the Right Support and was still developing Positive Behaviour Support plans. Inspectors recommended further work to reduce restrictive practices and improve planning.
“We recommend the service familiarises themselves with Registering the Right Support, to review people's support against its principles and related guidance” from the report
Incident debrief records
needs fixingStaff held verbal debriefs after incidents, but these were not always written down. Inspectors also wanted learning from them to be clearer in care plan reviews.
“We highlighted to the registered manager that these needed to be recorded.” from the report
Staff vacancies
minorThere were enough staff at the inspection, but the home had some vacancies and recruitment was still taking place.
“There were enough staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe, although there were a few staff vacancies for which recruitment was ongoing.” from the report
Care plan reviews
minorInspectors identified some areas where goals could be more personalised and reviews could show people's progress more clearly.
“We highlighted to the registered manager a few areas for review, to personalise some goals and ensure reviews reflected people's progress effectively.” from the report
- 01What has changed since the inspection in how you use Registering the Right Support guidance?
- 02How are Positive Behaviour Support plans developed, reviewed and used to reduce restrictions?
- 03How are staff debriefs after incidents recorded and linked to care plan reviews?
- 04How are the staff vacancies affecting the people currently living at the home?
- 05How will my relative's goals and progress be recorded and reviewed?
This was an unannounced planned inspection covering all five key questions, and all five ratings were Good. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 February 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.
What inspectors found, May 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, and the home remained Good since its previous inspection.
Inspectors visited without warning on 6 April 2017. They spoke with one person, two relatives, the manager, a nurse and four care staff. They reviewed care and medicines records, staff files and quality checks, and observed how care was provided.
They found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable staff recruitment checks and a clean home. Staff understood people's risks and needs. People were supported with food, health appointments, daily routines, activities and access to the community.
Inspectors found staff to be kind, respectful and familiar with people's communication. Care plans were detailed and regularly reviewed. The manager and staff used meetings, supervision and audits to monitor the service and make improvements.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating as at the previous inspection.
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were stored, recorded and disposed of safely. Staff who gave medicines had been assessed as competent.
“Medicines were stored, recorded and disposed of appropriately.” from the report
Skilled and supported staff
Staff had training for people's specific needs and received regular supervision. Relatives said regular staff knew people well.
“People's care was provided by regular staff who knew their needs well and provided support in a consistent way.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff communicated in ways people could understand and respected privacy and personal space. People were supported to maintain family relationships.
“Staff were kind and caring in their approach and spoke with people in a way people could understand.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's likes, dislikes and life history. People were supported to take part in activities and use local community facilities.
“People had access to activities they enjoyed and had opportunities to enjoy an active social life.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager used audits and action plans to monitor areas such as medicines, infection control and health and safety.
“Where shortfalls were identified they had been addressed through an action plan.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, including any non-verbal communication?
- 02How would my relative be involved in writing and reviewing their care plan?
- 03What activities and community opportunities could my relative take part in?
- 04How would you support my relative with their medicines and health appointments?
- 05How do you involve residents and families when care or staffing arrangements change?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating; the report says the ratings remained Good since the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 23 May 2017 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
3 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2020Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
97 live-in carers within about an hour of Rotherham
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 £980 to £1,260 a week. 80 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“Carla has been a god send with the implementation of bringing mum back home from respite care.”
“Beatrice was a talent dementia carer whose professionalism and dedication allowed mums wishes to remain in her own her come true.”
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.