Background to this inspection
Updated
16 April 2020
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an inspection manager.
Service and service type
The 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 CQC. 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.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and other professionals.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return before this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service, six people’s relatives and received feedback from two health and social care professionals. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and three members of care staff.
We reviewed two people's care records in full, including their medication administration records and daily notes. We looked at two staff's recruitment, induction, training and supervision records as well as other records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to review evidence from the inspection and seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
16 April 2020
About the service
The Lodge provides residential care for younger adults with a learning disability and/or autism. The service is registered to support up to eight people in one adapted building, and eight people were using the service when we inspected.
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 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’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received support from trained staff to reduce any anxiety or distress and help keep them safe. Professionals and relatives praised the effective support provided and the positive outcomes achieved for people who used the service. Not all records included enough information to guide staff on when they might need to use certain medicines or physical restraint to keep people safe.
We made recommendations about reviewing the approach to supporting, recording and analysing incidents of anxiety or distress, and to look at good practice on stopping over medication of people with a learning disability and/or autism.
The registered manager was responsive to feedback and committed to developing the service and improving people’s quality of life.
People were kept safe by staff who had been safely recruited and trained to identify and respond to any safeguarding concerns. The registered manager made sure enough staff were deployed to meet people’s needs. The environment was safely maintained and clean. People were protected from the risk of healthcare related infections.
Staff completed regular training and had supervisions and appraisals to support them in their role. They worked closely with professionals to make sure they were providing effective care and people received medical attention when needed.
People were supported to eat a varied and balanced diet, and to maintain good health.
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. Applications were made when needed to deprive people of their liberty. We made a recommendation about recording in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Staff were kind, caring and respectful. People shared positive caring relationships with the staff who supported them and clearly valued and benefited from their company.
Staff provided support in line with the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People had a good quality of life and were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests. Staff encouraged and supported people to take part in a wide range of activities to learn new skills and to reduce the risk of social isolation.
There were systems in place to manage and respond to complaints. Lessons had been learned and changes made to improve the service. People consistently told us staff and management were approachable and responsive to feedback.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (report published 3 August 2017).
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 reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.