CQC report explained · a residential care home, run by Priory Group

Mar Lodge

26 Nottingham Road, Melton Mowbray, LE13 0NP

Goodpublished 7 February 2024, 2 years ago

Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.

The five questions inspectors ask

Safe?: Good; People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicine management, effective risk planning and a clean environment.
Effective?: Good; This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
Caring?: Good; This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
Responsive?: Good; This question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used to calculate the overall rating.
Well-led?: Good; The home had effective checks and audits, clear responsibilities and an open management culture. People and relatives spoke highly of the service.

The latest report, explained

What inspectors found, February 2024

Rated Good; inspectors found safe, person-centred care, with better safety since the last inspection but a conservatory temperature issue still to address.

Inspectors visited on 28 December 2023 and 15 January 2024. They spoke with staff, relatives and people living at the home, observed care and reviewed care, medicine and management records.

The home was safe and well-led. Staff knew people well, supported their independence and understood how to manage risks, medicines and safeguarding. The home was clean, and there were enough staff.

Safety improved from Requires Improvement at the previous inspection to Good. Well-led remained Good. The inspection only checked Safe and Well-led, so the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection.

Inspectors recommended improving temperature control in the conservatory so people can use it throughout the year. They will continue to monitor information about the home.

What inspectors praised

People’s independence
People were supported to make choices, follow their goals and stay connected with friends and family. Staff used the least restrictive approach possible.
“People were supported to be as independent as possible and to maintain positive relationships with the people they cared about.” from the report
Knowledgeable staff
Staff understood people’s communication needs and knew how to support them safely. Many staff had worked at the home for several years.
“Staff knew people well and explained how changes of behaviour and mood may indicate something was wrong.” from the report
Safe care systems
Risk plans, safeguarding processes and medicine checks were in place. Inspectors found medicine records accurate and up to date.
“People's medicines were managed in a safe way. Staff had training and had their competency assessed.” from the report
Listening to people
People helped shape their support plans, goals, menus and activities. The home used meetings and accessible information to gather views.
“Changes were made in response to what people said, for example, changes to the menu and where to go for trips out.” from the report
Clean environment
The home was visibly clean and staff followed cleaning schedules and infection control guidance.
“The service was visibly clean and fresh throughout.” from the report

What inspectors were concerned about

Conservatory temperature
needs fixing
Inspectors recommended action so people can use the conservatory comfortably throughout the year. This was a shortfall rather than a breach.
“We recommended the provider take action to improve temperature control in the conservatory so people can access this living space as required at all times of the year.” from the report
Steps inside the building
minor
There were several steps that could create a trip or fall risk. The provider had reduced the risk with brighter lighting, adaptations and individual support.
“There were a number of steps within the building which may present a trip or fall hazard” from the report

Questions to ask them, based on this report

01What action has been taken to control the temperature in the conservatory throughout the year?
02How are the steps in the building assessed and managed for each person’s risk of falling?
03How will you maintain the improvements that led Safe to move from Requires Improvement to Good?
04How are people involved in setting their goals, support plans, menus and activities?
05What were the previous ratings for Effective, Caring and Responsive, which were not checked in this inspection?

This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous inspection published on 12 December 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 February 2024 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.

The story over the years

Every inspection of Mar Lodge

3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.

February 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed Good
Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read what inspectors found at Mar Lodge →
December 2018Goodstayed Good
Safe: Requires improvementWell-led: Good
We are reading this report · the original is on cqc.org.uk
August 2016Good
Safe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
Read this report on cqc.org.uk
October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
Read this report on cqc.org.uk
November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
Read this report on cqc.org.uk
December 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
Read this report on cqc.org.uk
January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 January 2011.

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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What inspectors found, February 2024

People’s independence

Knowledgeable staff

Safe care systems

Listening to people

Clean environment

Conservatory temperature

Steps inside the building

Every inspection of Mar Lodge

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