A Care Quality Commission inspection has found that a strictly Orthodox supported living service “requires improvement”, noting that “the provider was not consistently meeting the requirement of the Mental Care Act”.

Fradel Lodge, a Stamford Hill-based facility providing personal care and accommodation for adults with mental or physical health issues, which operates under the aegis of the Agudas Israel Housing Association, was inspected by the CQC in May.

It has a capacity of 36, although the report stated that, at the time of the inspection, there were 21 people receiving care.

The newly published report does praise elements of care at Fradel Lodge, rating it as good in three of the five inspection categories.

But in terms of being effective and well led, it required improvement.

By comparison, the previous inspection in 2014 found the service to be good in all five elements.

The latest report noted that inspectors had found “examples of documentation being signed by next of kin without their having the legal authority to do so”.

However, feedback from relatives of those supported had been uniformly positive, praising both the “devoted and friendly” staff and the “fantastic” facility manager.

Employees received ongoing training.

When contacted by the JC, an AIHA representative preferred to talk about a CQC inspection last year of the Beis Pinchos care home which is also part of the association’s complex at Schonfeld Square. Beis Pinchos was rated as good in all five categories.