CQC report explained · a residential care home, run by Swanton Care and Community
Park Lodge
Park Avenue, Roker, Sunderland, SR6 9PU
Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. There were enough staff, medicines were managed safely, and infection control arrangements were effective, although some recruitment records and staffing allocation records needed improvement.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this visit. Its previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was consistently managed and staff promoted person-centred care. Some relatives said communication could be better, and the manager was taking action to involve families more.
What inspectors found, January 2024
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind care, but some records and communication with relatives needed improvement.
This was an unannounced inspection over four days in December 2023. Inspectors met people living in the home, contacted relatives, spoke with staff and other professionals, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
People were supported to make choices and be independent. Inspectors found kind care, enough staff, safe medicines practice, infection controls and safeguarding arrangements. The home worked with other agencies and the manager acted on issues found.
Some improvements were needed. Recruitment records had gaps, records of one-to-one and two-to-one staffing needed to be clearer, and some relatives wanted better communication and more activities. The overall rating was Good, but this inspection only assessed Safe and Well-led. The other ratings carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection.
Choice and independence
Staff supported people to make decisions, build on their strengths and live meaningful everyday lives.
“People were supported to have maximum possible choice, control and independence.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors found that staff provided compassionate care and protected people's privacy and dignity.
“People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity.” from the report
Safe staffing and medicines
There were enough staff to meet people's needs, and staff were trained and checked as competent to give medicines.
“There were enough staff to safely care for people.” from the report
Active management
The manager reviewed incidents and service systems, and took action when improvements were identified.
“The registered manager critically reviewed the operation of the service and actively made changes to the improve the service, as and when these were needed.” from the report
Recruitment records
needs fixingSome staff files did not fully show employment histories, DBS checks and current photographs. The management team was working to address these gaps.
“However, there were some gaps such as evidence to demonstrate employment histories had been fully explored, what DBS evidence had been requested and current photographs.” from the report
Communication with relatives
needs fixingSome relatives said they did not receive enough information and had to contact the home to find out how their family member was.
“Staff don't really communicate well. This is the issue I have. I have to ring and ask them how he is.” from the report
Activities and going out
minorSome relatives felt people would benefit from more activities and more support to go out. The manager was trying to improve this.
“Some relatives felt people would benefit from experiencing a wider range of activities, which the registered manager was trying to facilitate.” from the report
- 01How are you improving communication with relatives about changes and about how people are doing?
- 02How do you record and check the one-to-one or two-to-one staffing my relative receives?
- 03What activities and opportunities to go out are now available, and how are they matched to each person's wishes?
- 04How have you completed the missing employment history, DBS evidence and photograph checks in staff files?
- 05How will my relative and family be involved in discussions about their care and support needs?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings carried over from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 January 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.
Every inspection of Park Lodge
4 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has improved, from Inadequate to Good.
- January 2024Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2016Goodup from InadequateSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2015InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 December 2010.
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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Other services run by Swanton Care & Community (Autism North) Limited
14 other services on the CQC register. A pattern across a group tells you more than one report.