CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Worcester Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about infection prevention and control, PPE, testing, admissions, cleaning and the management of outbreaks. The home was also meeting the requirement concerning COVID-19 vaccination for non-exempt staff and visiting professionals.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection, although inspectors noted support for contact with family and friends.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed or rated in this targeted inspection. Inspectors did note that staff were updated about changes and supported by the registered manager and provider during the pandemic.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Worcester Lodge was inspected but not rated; inspectors found strong infection control, with visiting guidance needing closer attention after a COVID-19 outbreak.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 1 February 2022. Inspectors looked at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures.
Inspectors were assured that the home used PPE safely, arranged testing, managed admissions, kept its infection control policy up to date and maintained suitable cleaning and hygiene arrangements. Staff understood the procedures and were supported during the pandemic.
The home supported contact with relatives through a visiting pod and telecommunications. Relatives spoken to gave positive feedback about communication and how contact was maintained.
The home was facilitating visits, but inspectors signposted it to make sure current visiting guidance was followed and communicated after the outbreak. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate rating.
Infection control
The home had arrangements for PPE, testing, cleaning and staff training. Inspectors were assured that these measures were being used effectively.
“The service had appropriate donning and doffing areas and staff wore PPE in line with guidance.” from the report
Support for staff
Staff understood the procedures they needed to follow and were kept informed about changes during the pandemic.
“Staff we spoke with were clear on procedures they should follow and were updated about changes by the registered manager.” from the report
Family contact
The home used a visiting pod and telecommunications to help people keep in touch with relatives and friends.
“The service supported contact with people's friends and family through telecommunications and a visiting pod.” from the report
Activities
Activities were adapted so people could continue to have stimulation during the pandemic.
“Activities had been adapted to ensure people were stimulated.” from the report
Visiting guidance
needs fixingBecause of a COVID-19 outbreak, extra visiting measures were in place. Inspectors asked the home to make sure visiting guidance was followed and clearly communicated after the outbreak.
“We signposted the provider in this area to ensure visiting guidance was adhered to after the outbreak and communicated to relevant people.” from the report
- 01What visiting arrangements are in place now, and how will you tell families if guidance changes?
- 02What extra measures are used when there is a COVID-19 outbreak, and when are normal visits restored?
- 03How are residents supported to keep in contact with relatives if in-person visits are limited?
- 04How often are staff and residents tested when there is an outbreak?
- 05How do you make sure staff use PPE correctly and follow current infection control procedures?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and COVID-19-related staffing pressures; it did not rate the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 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, October 2019
Rated Good after a focused inspection; inspectors found safer surroundings and better management, but some monitoring still needed more detail.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 17 September 2019. Two inspectors spoke with managers and staff, reviewed four people's care records and three staff files, and checked incident, safety, recruitment and management records.
The home had improved since the previous inspection. Radiators were covered, the garden had been made safer, the service was clean, and equipment and furniture had been replaced. Medicines were stored and given safely, and staffing was kept at the level the provider considered safe.
The home had also improved its quality checks and management structure. However, inspectors said fire information, fire drills, some care plan guidance and maintenance records still needed improvement.
The overall rating changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This focused inspection only assessed Safe and Well-led. Ratings for the other areas were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
Safer environment
The home had made changes to reduce hazards and improve cleanliness and maintenance. Radiators were covered, the garden was safer, and communal areas had been repainted.
“Improvements had been made to the services environment to ensure it was safe, clean and better maintained.” from the report
Clean and suitable equipment
New equipment, furniture, bedding and towels had been obtained. Inspectors found these items clean, suitable and in good working order.
“New equipment and furniture was in place. This provided items that were clean, fit for use and in good working order.” from the report
Medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were stored and given safely. People received them as prescribed and arrangements were in place for medicines given when needed.
“People received their medicines as prescribed. Storage temperatures were monitored, and protocols were in place for 'as required' medicines.” from the report
Improved management systems
The home had revised its checks on safety, infection control and maintenance. Changes to senior roles made responsibilities clearer.
“This meant there was clearer responsibility and allocation of tasks.” from the report
Staff support and teamwork
Staff described positive support from managers and good teamwork. The report also recorded a positive and friendly atmosphere.
“There was a positive and friendly atmosphere at the service.” from the report
Fire arrangements
needs fixingInspectors said fire information needed better organisation. They also said fire drills should happen more often and include fuller reflection.
“We highlighted the fire information would benefit from being better organised and fire drills undertaken should occur more frequently and include deeper reflections.” from the report
Care plan detail
needs fixingBehaviour monitoring did not always link clearly to the information and guidance in people's care plans. The manager said this would be addressed.
“We highlighted that this needed to link to information and guidance in people's care plan.” from the report
Maintenance records
needs fixingDaily checks did not contain enough detail, and maintenance records did not always clearly show whether work was completed or progressing.
“We highlighted that the daily walk around records required further detail and maintenance tasks needed to accurately show completion or progression to the schedule of works.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make fire information easier to follow and to increase the frequency and quality of fire drills?
- 02How do you now make sure behaviour monitoring is linked to the person's care plan and guidance?
- 03How are daily walk-around records and maintenance schedules checked for accurate completion updates?
- 04Which improvements to bedrooms, bathrooms and other areas are still in progress, and when are they expected to be finished?
- 05What were the previous ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive, since these areas were not assessed in this inspection?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 October 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 Worcester Lodge
4 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- October 2019Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2018Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2017Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 30 December 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.
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