Haywood Lodge

Haywood Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 66 people. The service provides support to older adults with sensory impairment and those living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 18 people using the service.

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

Timely action to ensure people were safeguarded from the risk of abuse was not always taken and assessed risks to people’s health and safety were not always well managed. We were not fully assured with infection control practices and policies. Records did not always contain the information needed to administer medicines safely. There were enough staff to support people safely. When people needed assistance, staff responded in a timely way. However, we received mixed feedback about staffing levels. There were systems to monitor accidents and incidents, but timely action was not always taken when risks to people increased.

Assessments were carried out prior to people moving to Haywood Lodge but changes to people's needs were not always implemented quickly. Staff received an induction and training relevant to their roles. People were provided with regular drinks throughout the day and their feedback gathered on meals. However, when people needed specialised diets, this had not always been implemented because communication systems needed to improve. The service worked with external healthcare professionals to monitor people's needs.

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 were treated with care, kindness and warmth, and encouraged to participate in care planning, and decisions about their care. Staff protected people's privacy and dignity and recognised people's desire to retain their independence as much as possible.

People and their next of kin or relatives were involved in planning their care, so this could be delivered in a person centred way. However, care plans were not always up to date. There was limited information in people’s care plans to demonstrate that end of life care had been planned for, in consultation with people’s relatives, in order to provide personalised care.

Staff knew people well and responded to them in a person-centred way. There was some signage around the home, for example to tell people where toilets and bedrooms were. Residents meetings encouraged people to participate and contribute to future plans for group activities and outings. People and their relatives told us they had no complaints and felt if they needed to discuss a concern, staff would be approachable.

At the time of the inspection there was no registered manager in post and accountability was not fully understood at all levels, to ensure governance processes were fully supported, and provided effective oversight and mitigation of risk.

Staff demonstrated knowledge and a caring approach to people they supported, and we received positive feedback from people and relatives about staff, the atmosphere at the home and management. The provider understood their responsibilities in relation to duty of candour. Families were kept informed if their loved one had an accident or injury, and if there were changes in their health.

Surveys were used to engage people in the development of the service , and the provider worked with external healthcare professionals to help benefit people who lived at Haywood Lodge.

For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection:

We registered this service on 12 May 2022 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Enforcement

We have found breaches in relation to safeguarding, safe care and treatment and good governance at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of the full version of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.