Melody Lodge

Updated 14 May 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

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

Melody Lodge 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave Melody Lodge 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure we had enough information prior to inspection to promote safety.

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 professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to 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 six people who lived at Melody Lodge about their experience of the care provided. We also observed the care and support people received. We spoke with two members of care staff, the registered manager and a company director.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found and we reviewed information including training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 14 May 2021

About the service

Melody Lodge is a care home that provides accommodation and support for up to 11 people who live with a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder. Seven people were living there at the time of our inspection.

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

People were supported to stay safe by staff who were trained to identify and report any issues of concern. Risks had been identified and actions taken to keep people safe whilst supporting their independence.

Staff had been recruited and introduced to the service in a safe way. There were enough staff to ensure people’s needs and wishes were met in a timely way.

Medicines were managed safely and staff worked with health and social care professionals to help people maintain their health and well-being. The environment was clean and good infection control procedures were followed.

Staff received training and support to ensure people’s care was focused on their individual needs and wishes. People were supported to enjoy the food and drinks they liked and staff encouraged them to maintain a well-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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People were involved in planning their own care so that the way they lived their life reflected their choices and wishes.

Staff were kind and caring towards people and upheld their privacy and dignity. People were respected as individuals and their views and opinions were valued. They were supported to engage in meaningful activities both in their home and within the local community, COVID-19 restrictions permitting.

There were systems in place to ensure good oversight of the quality of the services provided, and clear plans were in place to address any shortfalls. The registered manager promoted an open and inclusive culture within Melody Lodge and worked in partnership with relatives and external professionals to achieve good outcomes for people.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 15 October 2020).

At the last inspection the provider had positive and restrictive conditions applied to their registration. At this inspection we found they had sustained previous improvements and were meeting the conditions of their registration.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.