CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Wallace Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that the building and equipment were checked, risks were assessed, medicines were managed safely and staffing levels matched people's needs.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training and supervision. People received support from health professionals, and care followed guidance about issues such as eating, choking risks and mental capacity.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Inspectors saw kind relationships and found that relatives, advocates and people were involved in care planning.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were personalised and regularly reviewed. People were supported with activities, community involvement, communication, complaints and end of life wishes.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager and provider had a clear vision focused on independence. Regular audits, staff meetings, surveys and partnership working were used to monitor and improve the home.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care, with the previous Good rating maintained.
This was a comprehensive inspection over 13, 19 and 22 November 2018. The first visit was unannounced, followed by telephone calls to relatives and staff. Inspectors also reviewed care and recruitment records, checked the building and spoke with people, relatives, advocates and staff.
The home supported up to three people with learning and physical disabilities. Inspectors found that people were safe, medicines were managed properly, staff were trained and staffing levels met people's needs. Care plans reflected people's individual needs and choices.
People were treated with dignity and kindness. They were supported to take part in activities, make choices and access the local community. The home had systems for complaints, audits and improving the service.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. It was also rated Good at the previous inspection, and this inspection found no serious risks or concerns.
Safe medicines and staffing
Inspectors found medicines were managed safely and staffing levels reflected people's assessed needs. Recruitment checks were also in place.
“Medicines were managed safely. Medicines administration records (MARs) were checked regularly and were correctly completed.” from the report
Kind relationships
People had friendly relationships with staff who knew their likes, dislikes and support needs. Inspectors saw warm and caring interactions.
“We saw kind, warm and caring attitudes between people in receipt of care from the service and staff.” from the report
Personalised support
People and their relatives helped shape care plans. The home recorded people's preferences, activities, communication needs and end of life wishes.
“People using the service and their relatives all consented to their individual care plans and helped to shape these, which was clearly documented.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were encouraged to make choices, take part in activities and be as independent as possible, including through activities in the local community.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible” from the report
Quality monitoring
The manager and provider carried out regular audits and recorded actions when issues were found. The home also gathered feedback from people, relatives and staff.
“There was a robust quality assurance framework in place.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review my relative's individual needs and risks?
- 02How will my relative be supported to make choices and remain as independent as possible?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 04How would you support my relative with eating, choking risks or other changing health needs?
- 05How would you involve my relative, our family and any advocate in care planning and reviews?
This was a comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions, with an unannounced visit followed by telephone calls to relatives and staff. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 January 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 Wallace Lodge
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 26 November 2010.
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
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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Tyneside
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 £950 to £1,140 a week. 34 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.