Archived: Cypress Lodge

Updated 24 October 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Cypress Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. Due to the small size of this service the registered manager was predominantly based at a larger service run by the same provider. The registered manager visited regularly and was supported by a team leader on site who managed the day to day running of this service.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. We arranged to return the next day to ensure we spoke with all the people living in the home.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with all three people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, team leader and two care staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance records, policies and procedures were reviewed.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 24 October 2019

About the service

Cypress Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to three people who have a learning disability. At the time of the inspection there were three people living at the service. The accommodation is a bungalow in the suburbs of Norwich. This was similar in size to surrounding domestic homes and fitted in with the residential area. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People continued to receive a good service. People were kept safe from harm by appropriately recruited and trained staff. Risks to people's health and wellbeing were addressed and mitigated.

Staff supported people with their medicines and to maintain cleanliness within their home.

Staff were well trained and supported by the management team. Staff worked well with other health and social care professionals to enable good outcomes for people. People were supported to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff

supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to maintain caring relationships with people who knew them well. People's independence was respected and encouraged as far as possible. People received care which was person-centred and responsive to their needs.

People knew how to make a complaint and felt confident they would be listened to. Regular audits took place to measure the success of the service and to continue to develop it. People, staff and the registered manager described a culture which focussed on people and ensuring they received good care.

The service applied the principles and values of ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of ‘Registering the Right Support’ by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them living as full a life as possible, having many opportunities for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published November 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.