Bentley Lodge Care Home

Bentley Lodge Care Home has undergone a recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), with the full report providing a detailed overview of the service's performance. This summary aims to offer families a clear picture of the home's strengths and areas for continued development, based on the findings of the inspection visit in April 2021. The report highlights significant improvements across several key areas, reflecting a positive shift in the home's overall delivery of care and management.

In terms of safety, while some aspects require further attention, substantial progress has been made. The home has implemented robust safeguarding procedures to protect residents from abuse, and staff are well-trained to report any concerns. Measures are in place to ensure the environment and equipment are maintained, though completing all planned works following a new fire risk assessment will take time. There was a minor issue noted with the accuracy of one resident's risk assessment, which is being addressed, and the transition to a new electronic records system is ongoing.

Regarding effectiveness, the provider employs sufficient staff to meet residents' needs, and new staff have been recruited with adequate English language skills, with support offered for further development. Training has been updated to ensure staff have the necessary knowledge and skills. Medicine management has seen improvements, though a minor point regarding the signing of topical cream applications was identified and is being rectified, along with ensuring temperature checks on medicine trolleys.

The care provided at Bentley Lodge has been rated positively. Staff are observed to treat residents with kindness and compassion, having enough time to interact and engage with them. Residents are involved in decisions about their day-to-day care, and their privacy, dignity, and independence are respected. While the home is working to increase activity provision, with plans to expand the activities staff's hours, feedback on this varied, with some finding more stimulation would be beneficial.

In terms of responsiveness, the service has seen positive changes that residents and their relatives have noticed. Feedback indicated that staff are happy and engaging, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere. Processes are in place to ensure staff are aware of when residents have completed their isolation periods, allowing for freedom of movement.

The home is described as well-led, with management driving positive improvements in the service's culture. Communication from the manager has been noted as significantly better, and quality assurance processes are effective in ensuring ongoing improvements. The manager works collaboratively with statutory services and actively seeks feedback from residents and their families. A recommendation has been made for the provider to review guidance on pre-employment checks during the pandemic, following the identification of some missing checks during the COVID-19 outbreak, although no harm resulted from this.