- Care home
Washington Lodge
Assessment report published 28 September 2026
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
We carried out this assessment between 28 July and 10 August 2026. We visited the service on 28 July 2026 and 4 August 2026. Washington Lodge is a nursing home which provides nursing and personal care for up to 65 people, some of whom were living with dementia. There were 41 people living at the home. The provider was currently in administration, and in the process of being sold.
This inspection was due to concerns about people’s care and safety. In particular, concerns about skincare, poor hygiene, delayed responses to care needs, high use of agency staff, medicines management, ineffective management oversight, pressure on staff and a lack of a qualified chef. We found some evidence of some these concerns during our inspection.
Care plans did not reflect people’s current needs. Positional change records were not completed correctly and we were not assured people received skin care they needed. These observations had not been identified through the provider’s quality assurance processes. In response, the registered manager had reviewed all care plans and completed an action plan. They had identified the improvements needed and set timescales for staff to complete the required work. However, these improvements had not been identified through the provider’s usual quality assurance processes.
The registered manager monitored and risk assessed staffing levels to ensure a suitable number of staff were deployed. However, staff raised concerns about staffing pressures they faced. This included having insufficient time to spend quality time with people, due to the volume and duplication of paperwork. They also raised concerns about staff retention challenges and the frequent use of agency staff.
Staff spoke positively about the registered manager. They also described the home as having a supportive culture and good teamwork. Staff received regular supervision and appraisal.
The service had effective systems for managing incidents, accidents and safeguarding concerns, with analysis undertaken to identify learning and areas for improvement. Systems were in place to monitor and manage Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications and authorisations appropriately.
The environment was clean and people's bedrooms were personalised to reflect their preferences and interests. However, parts of the environment needed refurbishing and upgrading to enhance the overall experience for people living at the home.
People's experience of this service
People and relatives gave mostly positive feedback about the care provided. They described the home as a safe place to live, and staff were kind and caring. The service regularly received compliments about the care provided.
People and relatives gave mixed feedback about other aspects of the service, including the high use of agency staff. They felt this sometimes impacted on the continuity of care because people were supported by different staff members. Interactions between people and staff were mixed, with some staff focused on completing paperwork rather than engaging with people.
People and relatives gave mixed feedback about the quality and variety of the meals provided. Some relatives said drinks were not always left within easy reach of their family members. People did not consistently experience a positive lunchtime dining experience. Tables had not been fully set, people and relatives were rearranging cutlery and crockery and some relatives offered to support people other than their own family members. There was a mix of positive and task-focused interactions when staff supported people with eating and drinking.