We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Lodge Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Lodge Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
The Lodge Care Home is a residential care home situated in South Shields. It provides accommodation and personal care for up to 52 older people. The service does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection 44 people used at the service, some of whom were living with dementia.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
People felt at home. They were supported by staff who knew them well. They interacted warmly with staff and the atmosphere, particularly on the ground floor, was welcoming and vibrant.
Risks to people's health and safety were assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff followed these plans to ensure people’s safety.
There were occasions when there not enough staff to meet people’s needs promptly. The provider’s dependency tool did not consider how people chose to use the environment and the impacts on staffing requirements. We have made a recommendation about this.
The provider had safeguarding and whistleblowing policies and systems in place. Staff understood these and how to identify potential signs of abuse. They worked well with external partners to keep people safe, though some felt that communication could be improved further.
The registered manager and regional management reviewed data regarding falls and incidents.
The environment was well maintained and clean. The outdoor space had been used creatively, with relaxed seating areas and a play space for visitor’s young children.
Staff were recruited safely. They received an initial induction and ongoing training, support and competence checks.
Medicines were stored and administered safely. The registered manager and regional manager demonstrated they had dealt with a recent medicines incident thoroughly and had made changes to improve safety.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People’s nutritional needs were understood and feedback regarding meals was positive. Staff used nationally recognised tools to monitor risks associated with malnutrition.
Staff interacted sensitively with people throughout the inspection.
Planned activities had been impacted on by the need for the wellbeing lead to support with care delivery. They and the registered manager hoped this was a short term situation and there were plans in place to fill vacant positions. The registered manager stated they planned to use the provider’s minibus to increase outings during the summer.
The registered manager was well respected by staff and external partners. Feedback from external specialists was positive regarding the leadership of the service.
Clear systems were in place to maintain oversight of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 13 May 2021 and this is the first inspection.
The last rating for the service, under the previous provider, was good published on 26 September 2017.
Why we inspected
This inspection was planned based on the date the service registered with us.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.