The Lodge Nursing Home

Updated 14 April 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 2 March 2016 and was unannounced. There were 10 people living in the home at the time of our inspection. The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and the information we held about the service including statutory notifications the provider is required to send us by law.

We spoke with two people who used the service, three relatives, the deputy manager and three members of the care staff. We did this to gain views about the care and to check that the standards were being met.

We looked at two care plans to see if the records were accurate, reflected people’s care and were up to date. We also looked at three recruitment records and information relating to the management of the service including quality checks, training records and staff rotas.

Updated 14 April 2016

We inspected this service on 2 March 2016. The inspection was unannounced. Our last inspection took place on 9 September 2013 when we found the provider was meeting all the standards we inspected.

The Lodge Nursing Home is registered to provide accommodation and nursing care for up to 10 people.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Some improvements were required to ensure the quality of the service was monitored to drive change. There was insufficient information provided to explain when people might need ‘as required’ medicines. People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse because staff understood their responsibilities and the actions they needed to take to protect people. People’s risks were assessed and there were management plans in place to ensure people were supported appropriately. Medicines were stored, recorded and administered correctly which ensured people received the treatments prescribed for them.

There were suitable recruitment checks in place to ensure staff were suitable to work within a caring environment. Staff received training and support to enable them to care for people effectively. People were able to choose nutritious meals and were offered frequent drinks to maintain their health and wellbeing. The advice of healthcare professionals was sought and implemented for people whenever specialist advice was required.

The provider recognised the importance of gaining consent from people and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. There were arrangements in place to support people when they needed help with decision making.

Staff were kind, attentive, caring and showed an interest in people and their families. Staff understood people’s right to privacy and promoted their dignity by offering support and delivering personal care in a discreet way. Relatives were welcomed and supported by staff.

Staff knew people well and offered a personalised approach to care. People were encouraged to participate in hobbies and activities which interested them. Staff spent time socialising with people on a one to one basis.

People, relatives and staff felt supported by the registered manager and the acting manager. There were opportunities to share views on the service as there was an open and transparent ethos in the home.