Bruce Lodge

Updated 22 June 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

This inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Bruce Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Bruce Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This 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 the local Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually 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 14 people who used the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, kitchen and laundry staff, care workers and senior care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 9 people’s care records and 6 medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 22 June 2023

About the service

Bruce Lodge is a care home which provides accommodation and personal care for older people, some of whom live with dementia, and was supporting 64 people at the time of inspection. The service can support up to 66 people. Part of the home was currently providing short-term, care placements for people who have been discharged from hospital but not yet ready to return home. People had their own bedrooms and access to various communal areas and secure outside gardens.

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

Staff had undergone safe recruitment checks prior to working at the home. Medicines were mostly managed safely. Risks to people's health, safety and well-being had been identified through assessments and care plans provided staff with the relevant information and guidance to help support people safely. We have made a recommendation about safe storage of thickeners.

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. People at risk of malnutrition were supported to help ensure they had a good level of nutritional intake. We have made a recommendation to ensure people have access to water at all times. Referrals to other agencies were made when needed and this helped people access the healthcare they needed. People were supported by staff who had received training and supervision.

People told us staff were caring, kind and treated them well. We mostly observed staff treating people with respect and encouraging them to be independent and make decisions about their care when they were able to. Staff respected people's right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality.

Care plans included information about people’s backgrounds and diversity to guide staff about what was important to them. We have made a recommendation about people’s staff gender preferences for care.

The registered manager had good links with other organisations and built relationships with key people such as the local authority and health protection teams. Statutory notifications were submitted as required. We found there were still some improvements to be made to the oversight of the quality and safety of the service and we have made a recommendation about this.

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 21 December 2021)

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider ensures there are enough staff to meet people's needs. At this inspection we found they had made improvements. At our last inspection we recommended that the provider ensures people are safely supported to take their medicines. At this inspection we found they had made improvements.

Why we inspected

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.

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about laundry management, person-centred care and lack of activities. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

Recommendations

We have made one recommendation about safe storage of thickener, one recommendation about the accessibility of water and one recommendation about people’s gender preferences for care. We have also made a recommendation about robust quality monitoring systems.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.