CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Vicarage Lodge
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough suitably recruited staff, effective medicines monitoring, positive risk support and infection control procedures.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's health, nutrition and individual needs were supported well. Staff were trained and experienced, and the home worked with health professionals.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff used different methods to help people express choices and supported important family relationships.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was highly personalised and flexible. People were supported to take part in activities, develop skills, communicate their wishes and achieve greater independence.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Leadership was described as exceptional. Managers used specialist teams, feedback and electronic monitoring to identify issues and keep improving care.
What inspectors found, June 2020
Vicarage Lodge was rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally responsive, well-led care, with safe, effective and kind support.
The inspection took place on 9 March 2020. One inspector spent time with all three people living at the home, joined them and staff in activities, and spoke with managers, care staff, relatives and health and social care professionals. Records about care, risks, medicines and management were also checked.
Inspectors found that people were safe and received effective, kind care. Staff knew people well and used creative ways to understand their choices, even though people could not communicate verbally. People were supported to try activities, build skills, stay healthy and become more independent.
The home was rated Outstanding overall. Responsive care and leadership were rated Outstanding, while Safe, Effective and Caring were rated Good. The previous overall rating was Good, and Responsive and Well-led improved from Good to Outstanding.
Personalised activities
People were supported to take part in varied activities that matched their interests. Staff helped them try challenging experiences and develop everyday skills.
“Staff went the extra mile to support people to undertake a variety of exciting and challenging activities of their choice which interested them.” from the report
Communication support
Staff used photographs, objects, pictures and other approaches to understand what people wanted. This helped people make daily choices despite not being able to communicate verbally.
“The service was extremely creative in supporting people to communicate their wants and wishes.” from the report
Improved independence
Inspectors saw evidence that people's physical abilities and independence had improved. This included needing less help with movement and transfers.
“The exceptional collaborative working, bespoke care planning and consistent approach of staff had a positive impact on people's health, independence and wellbeing.” from the report
Strong leadership
The home had specialist teams supporting managers and care staff. Its electronic system monitored care and management information in real time, helping staff act quickly.
“There was a strong emphasis on continuous improvement. An advanced centralised electronic monitoring system was in place.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you use your communication tools to understand my relative's choices and wishes?
- 02What activities would you offer my relative based on their interests and abilities?
- 03How would you support my relative's specific health needs, medicines and nutritional requirements?
- 04How would you help my relative develop skills and become more independent?
- 05How would our family be involved in care planning and give feedback about the service?
This was a scheduled inspection covering all five CQC questions, and inspectors looked at both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 June 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, September 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with minor record-keeping issues to improve.
This was an unannounced inspection over 5 and 6 July 2017. Inspectors looked at care files, medicines records, staffing, training, accidents, complaints, the building and quality checks. They observed care and spoke with staff, relatives and healthcare professionals.
The home was supporting three people with learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable training and detailed care plans. People were treated with dignity, supported to make choices and offered activities at home and in the community.
The overall rating was Good, and all five areas were rated Good. This means inspectors found the home meeting the relevant standards at the time of this inspection. It was rated Good at the previous inspection in December 2014 and remained Good.
Enough staff
Inspectors found sufficient staff to support people safely. Recruitment checks and staff training were also in place.
“People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were kept securely, records had no omissions and staff were checked as competent to administer them.
“Records showed people received their medicines on time and in accordance with their prescription.” from the report
Personalised care
Staff understood people's preferences, communication and routines. Care plans gave clear guidance about individual support needs.
“All of the staff we spoke with had an in-depth understanding of the people they supported, their personalities, their particular interests and their preferred routines.” from the report
Activities and choice
People were offered a wide range of activities and were supported to take part in their local and wider community.
“People who used the service were provided an extensive range of activities to participate in, both in house and within in the local and wider community.” from the report
Quality monitoring
The provider and home used regular audits, feedback and action plans to check the service and identify improvements.
“A comprehensive quality assurance system was seen to be in place.” from the report
Best-interest records
minorSome records did not clearly show all the consultation with professionals and family members. The information was recorded elsewhere in the care record, and the manager said this would be improved.
“Some minor inconsistencies in the details of some records were discussed with the registered manager to develop their practice and use of language to demonstrate in more detail the process they had followed.” from the report
Fluid records
minorOne person's fluid chart looked lower than expected because drinks and other fluids were recorded in different places. The manager agreed to revise the chart.
“We observed that because information was being maintained in different areas about people's intake, one person's fluid consumption record intake looked to be lower than expected.” from the report
- 01How was the fluid intake chart changed so that all drinks and other fluids are recorded together?
- 02How do you now record consultation with relatives and professionals during best-interest decisions?
- 03How many staff are usually available for each shift, and how is this matched to each person's needs?
- 04What activities and community opportunities are currently available for my relative?
- 05How will my relative and our family be involved in regular care plan reviews?
This was an unannounced inspection over two days covering all five CQC questions and the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 September 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 Vicarage Lodge
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- June 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- September 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 10 September 2013.
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
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12 live-in carers within about an hour of North East Lincolnshire
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 £1,350 a week. 10 can care for a couple. 7 years' experience on average.
“What truly stands out is how mindful and attentive she is to all of my medical needs, always going above and beyond to ensure I’m comfortable and well cared for.”
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
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.