What the CQC found at Vale Lodge Residential Home

People and relatives consistently described staff as caring. Inspectors saw staff speaking calmly, explaining care and treating people with dignity.

“Staff were kind and compassionate and treated people with respect.” from the report

Trained staff administered medicines and had their competence checked. Inspectors also found safe infection control, fire procedures and enough staff.

“People were safely supported with their medicines if they required, and people had care plans in place which detailed the medicine they were prescribed.” from the report

The home did not consistently record mental capacity assessments or best-interest decisions. This meant there was not always evidence that care and treatment had been agreed lawfully and in people's best interests.

“There was no evidence that best interest decisions had involved the relevant people and there was no record of these being undertaken.” from the report

Some care plans used the wrong name or gender, contained out-of-date health information, or lacked guidance about risks and communication. Inspectors were told records were updated after the inspection.

“Although staff told us how they delivered person centred care, records did not always accurately reflect people's current care needs fully.” from the report

One staff file had no application form or references, and another had only one reference. The report said robust checks had not been followed for one family member who was appointed.

“People were not always protected by safe, thorough recruitment practices.” from the report

The home's audits and management systems had not found the problems inspectors identified. The management structure also relied heavily on the provider and registered manager.

“Quality assurance systems had not always identified areas for improvement such as those we found during the inspection.” from the report