CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Warren Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found up-to-date risk assessments, enough staff, safe recruitment, safe medicines management and effective infection control. Accidents and incidents were investigated and lessons were shared.
- Effective?
- Good
- The report does not give a rating for Effective in this inspection. It says staff supported people within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and used best interest decisions where needed.
- Caring?
- Good
- The report does not give a rating for Caring in this inspection. People and relatives described staff as kind, friendly, knowledgeable and respectful.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's preferences, activities were available and adapted for people in their rooms, and complaints were investigated and resolved.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear management systems, regular audits and improved staff morale under a new manager. The manager had applied to register, but the application was still being assessed.
What inspectors found, May 2023
Warren Lodge Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, responsive care and improving leadership.
Inspectors visited without notice on 28 March 2023. They spoke with 8 people living at the home, 16 relatives and 11 staff. They observed care and reviewed care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe, Responsive and Well-led were each rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine systems, up-to-date risk assessments, personalised care plans and activities for people, including those cared for in their rooms.
The home had been through a difficult period involving staffing and internal investigations about its culture. A new manager had been in post for two months and staff and relatives said the atmosphere and communication had improved.
This was not a full review of all five CQC questions. The report gives ratings for Safe, Responsive and Well-led. The previous overall rating was also Good, published on 29 July 2021.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe and were happy living at the home.
“People told us they felt safe and were happy living at Warren Lodge.” from the report
Safe care systems
Risk assessments and care records were up to date. Medicines, staffing, recruitment and infection control were managed safely.
“Risk assessments were up to date and people received care and support from staff who knew them well.” from the report
Personalised activities
The home offered group and individual activities and adapted them for people who stayed in their rooms.
“Activities were adapted for people who stayed in their rooms.” from the report
Open leadership
Staff and relatives described the new manager as approachable. Inspectors found better communication, improved morale and regular quality checks.
“Staff told us the management team were supportive and approachable and they felt confident to report any concerns.” from the report
New manager still awaiting registration
minorThere was no registered manager at the time of the visit. The new manager had applied to register, but CQC was still assessing the application.
“At the time of our inspection, the service did not have a registered manager.” from the report
Weekend staffing concerns raised
minorSome relatives felt staffing levels were lower at weekends. The manager's rotas showed a consistent number of nurses and care workers throughout the week.
“Some relatives felt staffing levels were lower at weekend, but the rotas showed a consistent number of nurses and care workers throughout the week.” from the report
Previous difficult period
minorThe home had experienced a difficult period involving staffing and internal investigations about its culture. Inspectors found that the new manager was promoting a more positive culture.
“The service had been through a difficult period with staffing levels following some internal investigations around the culture of the service.” from the report
- 01How have staffing levels worked at weekends since the inspection?
- 02Has the manager's application to become registered been approved, and who is responsible for the home now?
- 03What changes have been made following the internal investigations into the culture of the service?
- 04How will you match activities and daily care to my relative's preferences, especially if they stay in their room?
- 05How will you keep me informed about changes, accidents or incidents affecting my relative?
This inspection rated Safe, Responsive and Well-led; the report does not give new ratings for Effective or Caring and refers to the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 May 2023 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, July 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found safe care and improved leadership, but some families were not involved enough in care reviews.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 30 June 2021. Inspectors looked at Safe and Well-led, spoke with people, relatives and staff, and checked care, medicine, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. People and relatives said people felt safe. Inspectors found safe medicine management, good infection control, up-to-date risk assessments and systems for learning when things went wrong.
Leadership was rated Good and had improved from Requires Improvement in April 2019. The report says the home had clear management arrangements, strong quality checks and a more positive culture.
This inspection did not assess Effective, Caring or Responsive. Their previous ratings were carried forward because inspectors found no information suggesting concerns in those areas.
People felt safe
People and relatives told inspectors they felt safe. Staff understood safeguarding procedures and records showed concerns were reported and investigated.
“People and their relatives told us they felt safe in the service.” from the report
Good risk management
Care plans and risk assessments were detailed and current. They included guidance on risks such as falls, choking and skin damage.
“Care plans and risk assessments were comprehensive and up to date.” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Medicines were stored, given and recorded safely. Errors were investigated, with extra training and other actions used to reduce the risk of repeat errors.
“Medicines were managed safely in accordance with national guidelines.” from the report
Strong quality checks
The home used audits, meetings and action plans to monitor care and follow up problems.
“The provider had a robust quality monitoring system.” from the report
Improved culture
Staff described better teamwork, morale and support from managers. Inspectors also saw changes aimed at improving the experience of people living with dementia.
“Staff told us the culture within the service was much improved.” from the report
Family involvement in reviews
needs fixingMost relatives had been involved when people first moved in, but many had not been involved in regular care plan reviews. The manager said plans were in place to address this.
“Most relatives said they had been involved in assessments and support planning when people first moved into Warren Lodge, but many had not been involved in any regular reviews.” from the report
Communication could be better
minorMost relatives felt informed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some said communication could have been better.
“Most relatives said they had been kept well informed during the COVID-19 pandemic, although some said that communication could have been better.” from the report
- 01How will you make sure families are invited to regular care plan reviews?
- 02How many staff are planned for each shift, and what happens when agency staff cannot be found?
- 03What changes have been made since the previous inspection to keep the improved management arrangements in place?
- 04How will you keep families informed about changes in care, medicines, incidents or visiting arrangements?
- 05How are lessons from falls, medicine errors and other incidents shared with the staff team?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; Effective, Caring and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 31 July 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.
Every inspection of Warren Lodge Care Home
7 rated inspections over 7 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- May 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2021GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2017Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2016Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 12 June 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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