CQC report explained · a residential care home, run by Maddaford Care Services
Lakeside Care Home
Lower Maddaford, Southcott, Okehampton, EX20 4NL
Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, suitable recruitment checks and effective management of risks. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew people's needs.
- Effective?
- Good
- No separate rating was given for this question in the report.
- Caring?
- Good
- No separate rating was given for this question in the report, although inspectors observed personalised and considerate care.
- Responsive?
- Good
- No separate rating was given for this question in the report.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was organised and led by two approachable managers. Audits, feedback, staff supervision and checks were used to monitor and improve the service.
What inspectors found, December 2023
Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind care and strong management, with small process improvements noted.
Inspectors visited without notice on 24 October and 2 November 2023. They spoke with 13 people living at the home, six relatives, staff and the two managers. They also observed care and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable recruitment checks and good systems for managing risks. People appeared comfortable and said staff knew them well.
The managers were described as approachable and involved. They used audits, feedback and staff checks to monitor the service. Inspectors noted some improvements were still needed, including clearer signs in the laundry areas and better prompts on a recruitment form.
Enough staff
People and relatives said staff were available and did not seem rushed. Staff worked as a team and knew people's needs and preferences.
“There were sufficient staff to meet people's care needs.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were administered and stored safely. Staff were trained, their competence was checked and records were well completed.
“There were well completed medicine administration records and good management systems to monitor and audit medicines.” from the report
Personalised care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with care and respect. Staff knew people well and supported them in a considerate way.
“Staff provided personalised care because they knew people well.” from the report
Strong management
The two managers divided responsibilities according to their skills and kept close oversight of care. The home used audits, spot checks and feedback to improve.
“There was a positive culture where there was an openness to learn and improve with quality assurance processes providing a foundation to ensure the service was well run.” from the report
Laundry signs
minorInspectors noted that clearer signs would help staff keep the clean and dirty laundry areas separate. This was a minor improvement identified during the visit.
“During the inspection, the registered managers decided the areas would benefit from clearer signage to remind staff about the separate areas.” from the report
Recruitment and CCTV information
minorThe managers recognised that the recruitment form needed clearer prompts. They also identified a need for improved signs about CCTV in communal areas.
“They recognised where they needed to make improvements, for example a clearer recruitment form with better prompts and improved signage regarding the use of CCTV in communal areas.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to the laundry signs since the inspection?
- 02Has the recruitment form been updated with clearer prompts, and how are new staff checks completed?
- 03What information is now displayed about CCTV in communal areas?
- 04How will you make sure there are enough suitably skilled staff if people's care needs become more complex?
- 05How do you assess and review whether the home can meet a new resident's specific care needs?
This inspection gave ratings for Safe and Well-led only; no separate ratings were given for Effective, Caring or Responsive. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 December 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.
Every inspection of Lakeside Care Home
2 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- December 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- November 2018GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 16 October 2017.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission. A service can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections, not every contact the CQC has had with the service.
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