CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at West Lodge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about many infection control arrangements, including PPE, testing, visiting and outbreak management. They were not assured that risk assessments had been completed for people and staff in higher-risk groups, and found problems with mop cleaning and colour coding.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
West Lodge Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control in many areas but identified some risks that needed action.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 25 January 2022. It focused on infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures linked to COVID-19.
Inspectors found the home clean, tidy and free from odours. They were assured about visitor arrangements, personal protective equipment, testing, admissions, social distancing and infection outbreak arrangements.
There were some shortfalls. Risk assessments had not been completed for people and staff in higher-risk groups. Staff were also not following the national mop colour-coding system, and mop heads were not cleaned between uses. The manager took immediate action about the mop risk.
The service was inspected but not rated. This was not a full assessment of the home, so the report does not give an overall quality rating.
Clean environment
Inspectors found the home clean, tidy and free from unpleasant smells.
“The service was clean, tidy and odour free.” from the report
Managing staff pressures
The staff team worked together during increased sickness, helping to reduce the use of agency staff and the possible spread of infection.
“The staff team had worked together to cover increased staff sickness during an outbreak to minimise the use of agency staff and potential to increase transmission of infection.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Visitors were directed along short routes and, where appropriate, visits took place in people's rooms or a separate conservatory.
“Visitors who were not vaccinated were asked to have socially distanced visits in the front conservatory and therefore did not pass through the home and other people's rooms.” from the report
Hand hygiene
A permanent double sink was provided at the entrance to support hand hygiene for visitors.
“There was a double sink basin as a permanent fixture in the entrance of the home to ensure all visitors were following good hand hygiene practices.” from the report
Higher-risk people
needs fixingRisk assessments had not been completed for people and staff in higher-risk groups. Inspectors could not be assured that steps had been taken to reduce those risks.
“Risk assessments had not been carried out on people using services and staff belonging to higher risk groups and therefore we could not be assured that actions had been taken to reduce any risks.” from the report
Mop cleaning
needs fixingStaff did not always follow the national mop colour-coding system. Mop heads were not cleaned between uses, creating an infection control risk, although the manager took immediate action.
“Mop heads were not cleaned between uses and were disposed of after a week of use.” from the report
- 01How are risk assessments for people and staff in higher-risk groups completed and kept up to date now?
- 02What checks are in place to make sure mop heads are cleaned between uses?
- 03Are staff now following the national colour-coding scheme for mops, and how is this monitored?
- 04How will visiting arrangements work for people who are not vaccinated or who need visits in a separate area?
- 05How are staffing pressures managed if there is another outbreak or increased staff sickness?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not assess the other four key questions and the service was not rated. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 February 2022 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, January 2018
West Lodge Care Home is rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a call bell design fault noted.
Inspectors visited on 4 December 2017 without telling the home in advance. They spoke with people living there, relatives and staff. They also checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good overall and remained Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, suitable training and good monitoring of people's health and nutrition.
People were treated with kindness and respect. Care plans reflected individual needs and choices. The home offered daily activities, supported community visits and had systems for complaints and feedback.
People felt safe
Everyone inspectors spoke with said they felt safe living at the home and with its staff.
“Without exception, every person we spoke with told us they felt safe living in West Lodge.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff supported privacy, dignity, choice and independence. Inspectors observed caring and positive interactions.
“Interactions were always positive and caring and there was also a lot of laughter and kindness shown towards people.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's preferences, life histories, interests and support needs. They were reviewed with people.
“People's care records were personalised to reflect their individual preferences, support and what they could manage for themselves.” from the report
Good food and health monitoring
People had choices and support with eating and drinking. Staff monitored nutrition, fluids and healthcare needs.
“All charts were fully completed and analysed, which showed staff were effectively monitoring people's intake and taking action, as required.” from the report
Activities and community links
The home offered activities every day, including weekends, and supported people to attend events and go out into the community.
“We saw activities were provided each day at the home including weekends which was positive.” from the report
Call bell system
minorThe call alarm sounded on every floor when someone used it in one area. Inspectors said this could frustrate staff, although they saw call bells answered quickly.
“The registered manager said they were aware of this but it was an unfortunate design fault when the system was installed.” from the report
- 01Has the nurse call alarm system been improved since the inspection, and how are staff alerted to the correct floor?
- 02How are my relative's care plans reviewed with them and their family when their needs or preferences change?
- 03How are medicines, including topical medicines, recorded and checked now?
- 04What activities are available each day, and how would you support my relative to take part in community visits?
- 05How do you use complaints, surveys and residents' meetings to make changes?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five questions and the overall quality of the home. This explanation was written from the published report of 3 January 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 West Lodge Care Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- January 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 January 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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47 live-in carers within about an hour of County Durham
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 £960 to £1,210 a week. 42 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.