Woodpecker Lodge

Updated 25 December 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Woodpecker 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 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

The first day of our inspection visit was unannounced. We informed the provider of the date on which we would be returning to complete our inspection visit.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection visit, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included information about incidents the provider must notify us of, such as any allegations of abuse. We sought feedback on the service from the local authority.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with the registered manager, operations director, quality improvement lead, three senior care staff and six care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. These included two people’s care records, medicines records, complaints records and three staff recruitment records. We also reviewed incident records, selected policies and records relating to the safety of the premises and management of the service.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives and two community health and social care professionals about their experiences of the care provided. We also reviewed additional information sent to us by the provider.

Updated 25 December 2019

About the service

Woodpecker Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to seven younger and older people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs. At the time of our inspection visits, there were five people living at the home.

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 that 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 using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

Incidents involving people who used the service were not always appropriately reviewed and investigated by the registered manager and provider, in protecting people from potential abuse. The provider’s procedures for assessing and managing the risks to people were not sufficiently robust. People’s risk assessment and care plans were not always fully reviewed and updated in light of incidents and episodes of challenging behaviour. Staff did not always follow people’s care plans or record incidents involving people in a professional manner. The provider had failed to inform us of a potential safeguarding incident involving two people living at the home.

Staff expressed mixed views on the management of the service. Some staff lacked confidence bringing concerns about people’s care to the attention of the registered manager. The provider’s quality assurance systems and processes were not as effective as they needed to be, and had not enabled the provider to address the shortfalls in quality we identified during our inspection. The provider and registered manager did not fully seek to engage positively with people and staff and involve them in the service.

Staff were clear how to identify and report abuse. Checks were completed on the premises and equipment in use to keep people, staff and visitors safe. There were enough staff on duty to safely meet people’s individual care needs. Pre-employment checks were carried out on prospective staff before they were allowed to start work at the home. Staff supported people to take and manage their medicines safely. Measures were in place to protect people, visitors and staff from the risk of infections.

People’s care plans were individualised and supported a person-centred approach. People’s individual communication needs were assessed and addressed. People had support to participate in social and recreational activities and to identify and access work opportunities in their local community. People and their relatives knew how to raise concerns and complaints about the service. People’s wishes regarding their end-of-life care were assessed, in order to address these at the relevant time.

People and their relatives spoke about their positive relationships with staff and the registered manager. Staff and management sought to work effectively with community health and social care professionals to ensure people’s care needs were addressed.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (report published 10 April 2019).

Why we inspected

This was a focussed inspection to assure ourselves the service was protecting people from abuse and avoidable harm and meeting people’s needs through effective leadership and management.

We reviewed the key questions of safe, responsive and well led only. We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions, therefore we did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has deteriorated to Requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches at this inspection. These relate to the provider’s failure to implemented robust procedures and processes to protect people from abuse and effective quality assurance systems and processes.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full 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 return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.