CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Thornton Lodge Residential Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks were assessed and managed, staffing and recruitment were suitable, medicines were safely managed, and infection control arrangements were in place.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was used when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders monitored quality, involved people and staff in improvements, and worked with other services.
What inspectors found, August 2021
Thornton Lodge Residential Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care and effective management, but there was no registered manager at the visit.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 30 June 2021. One inspector spoke with six people, five staff and a provider representative. They reviewed care, medicines, recruitment, training, safety and quality records, and observed how staff supported people.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found that risks were assessed and managed, staffing levels met people's needs, medicines were handled safely, and infection control arrangements were suitable. People were protected from abuse and staff knew how to report concerns.
The home provided person-centred care and involved people in decisions. Managers monitored quality, listened to feedback and worked with health and social care services. This was a focused inspection, so Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected at this visit and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating.
Risk management
The home assessed risks to people's safety and gave staff instructions about how to manage them. Staff also recognised changes in people's health and raised concerns.
“People were safe and protected from avoidable harm. The provider had assessed risks to people's safety and taken action to manage identified risks.” from the report
Staffing and medicines
People said there were enough staff, and inspectors saw staff respond promptly and without rushing. Medicines were administered by trained staff and records were clear.
“People told us there were enough staff to provide their support. We saw staff responded promptly when people required their assistance.” from the report
Person-centred care
Staff knew people well, involved them and people close to them in care decisions, and made time to listen when people were worried.
“The focus of the service was on providing person-centred care which took account of people's needs and preferences and promoted positive outcomes for people.” from the report
Listening and improvement
The provider asked people for their views through meetings and displayed the actions taken in response. Staff and people said suggestions were listened to.
“The provider asked for people's views and used the feedback received to further improve the service.” from the report
No registered manager
minorThere was no manager registered with the CQC when inspectors visited. A new manager had been employed and was preparing to apply for registration.
“The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A new manager had been employed and was preparing to apply for registration.” from the report
- 01Has the new manager now applied for registration with the CQC, and who is legally responsible for the home while this is being completed?
- 02How are risks for my relative assessed, reviewed and updated when their health or needs change?
- 03How do you check that medicines are given correctly and that records remain complete?
- 04How are people and families involved in decisions about care and in suggesting improvements?
- 05What are the current ratings and findings for Effective, Caring and Responsive, which were not inspected during this visit?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were used for the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 18 August 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 2018
Thornton Lodge Residential Care Home was rated Good overall, with Outstanding effective care and no breaches reported.
Inspectors visited on three days in January 2018. The first day was unannounced. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They observed care, checked the building and reviewed care records, medicines, training, incidents and other documents.
The home supports up to 36 people with mental health needs. At the inspection, 35 people lived there. Inspectors found people were safe, treated kindly and supported to make choices. They found good staffing, clean surroundings, safe medicines systems and detailed, personalised care records.
The home was rated Outstanding for Effective and Good for Safe, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This means inspectors found a very high standard in how people's health and care needs were met, while the other areas met the CQC standard for good care. The overall rating remained Good, as it was at the previous inspection.
Strong health support
The home worked closely with health and social care professionals and supported positive physical and mental health outcomes. A registered mental health nurse helped maintain standards of care.
“We saw evidence of multi-agency working to promote effective care.” from the report
Healthy lifestyles
People were supported with healthier food choices, exercise and gardening. Menus could be adapted for health conditions and people could access drinks and snacks freely.
“The registered provider had introduced health initiatives at the home to support people to have healthier lives.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
People and relatives spoke positively about staff. Inspectors saw sensitive emotional support, respect for privacy and dignity, and staff listening to people.
“We observed people being offered emotional support in a sensitive and timely manner.” from the report
Personalised activities
People could choose from activities in the home and the community, with support for individual hobbies, friendships and regular trips out.
“The registered manager said people were encouraged and supported to follow their own preferred hobbies and interests.” from the report
Good management checks
The management team carried out regular audits covering care records, cleanliness, medicines and safeguarding. They acted when checks identified discrepancies.
“Regular internal audits had been undertaken and any discrepancies were acted upon.” from the report
Infection control review
minorThe home said it hoped to review infection prevention and control processes, including hand hygiene facilities. After the inspection, an infection prevention and control champion was identified.
“The administrator said they were hoping to review infection prevention control processes at the home.” from the report
- 01What progress has been made with the review of infection prevention and control processes?
- 02How is hand hygiene equipment checked and maintained now?
- 03What arrangements are in place for end of life care and have you worked with the local hospice?
- 04How would you support my relative's specific mental health needs and health goals?
- 05How are activities and community visits matched to each person's interests and choices?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering the building, care provided and all five CQC key questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 February 2018 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 Thornton Lodge Residential Care Home
3 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Thornton Lodge Residential Care Home →
- February 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Thornton Lodge Residential Care Home →
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 4 April 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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85 live-in carers within about an hour of Lancashire
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. 78 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
“She understands the needs of an elderly person in the early stages of dementia and has treated my mother with great kindness and skill.”
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
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.