The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Ambleside Lodge

25 Brighton Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 5DA (01293) 781418

Provided and run by:
ACH of London LLP

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

15 October 2013

During a routine inspection

During our inspection visit we met five people and spoke with one person who used the service as the other four people were unable to express their feeling verbally. We also spoke with the acting manager, deputy manager, three care staff and two relatives.

We spoke with one person who used the service and told us, 'I like the food and staff are kind.'

We spoke with relatives of people who used the service who told us they were satisfied with the care that their relatives received. One relative told us that 'I am happy with the care and senior staff very good.' Another person told us 'The service is overall very good and staff are very good too.'

The home had a robust recruitment procedure in place; this meant that people were cared for by people who were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

We found that the provider had a system in place to monitor the quality of the service they provided and we found that people were generally satisfied with the care and treatment they received.

People were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment.

People were protected from the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment because accurate and appropriate records were maintained.

12 March 2013

During a routine inspection

Some of the people who were living at Ambleside have communication difficulties therefore they were unable to tell us about their experiences of using the service. We were able to speak with two people who used the service. They told us that they were happy living at Ambleside Lodge.

We observed that staff spoke to people in a friendly and respectful way. We found that people were involved in making decisions and their right to respect, dignity and privacy was respected.

We spoke with two people's relatives who said that the care was good. We observed that staff had a good understanding of people's needs and their means of communication and they had a good knowledge of their needs and preferences.

Relatives we spoke with said that they were given questionnaires to feedback their views. They also said that if they raised any issues with the service these were acted upon.

We observed that staff spoke to people in a friendly and respectful way. We found that people were involved in making decisions and their right to respect, dignity and privacy was respected.

We found that people were supported by sufficient numbers of staff. Staff told us that they received a lot of training. Staff were visible throughout this inspection and they provided people with good levels of support and they spent time engaging and interacting with them. A person who used the service said that there was always enough staff to support them

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We did not on this occasion speak to people who live at the service. This was because it was not necessary for us to obtain their views in order for the service to demonstrate that they have addressed our previous concerns for this outcome area. Instead we asked the registered manager to provide us with an action plan of how they have addressed our previous concerns regarding medication records.

31 March 2011

During a routine inspection

At the time of this review the service had been open eight months. Consistent feedback was received that since the service has opened they have gradually developed more effective strategies for supporting people who live at the service, as staffs understanding of peoples needs has improved. Staff spoke of the significant improvements to some people's independence and behaviour since moving to the service.

Some people who use services at Ambleside lodge do not use verbal forms of communication. Observation showed that some people used single words and some sentences and other people had their own style of communicating, for example, the use of body language, facial expressions or other forms of behaviour which staff clearly understood and responded to.

We observed that people who use services were given time to express their needs, were involved in making some day to day decisions and supported in a way that was mindful of their rights to respect, dignity and privacy.

Observation showed, and carers confirmed that people who use services enjoyed good standard of meals and were supported to maintain regular contact with their family and friends.

The vast majority of carers spoke positively about the good standards of services and facilities their relatives received. With one relative saying about the staff 'They are so very calm and laid back, which creates a nice atmosphere, which in turn has such a positive calming influence for all the young people'. They confirmed that staff were good at keeping in regular contact with them and involved them in more complex decision making on behalf of their relatives. They said that staff listened to their views and took them into account when organising how the service was to be provided and delivered.

People using services appeared relaxed and at ease in their surroundings and told us that they liked their bedrooms. Carers noted that the environment is clean and tidy regardless of when they visit.