Walkern Lodge

Updated 22 July 2022

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 undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

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

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. The current manager had applied to become the registered manager.

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 a health and social care providers. 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 visited the service location on 28 June 2022, and again in the evening on 11 July 2022. We spoke with two people and received feedback from two relatives and friends. We also spoke with five staff including the manager, regional manager and support workers. We received feedback from two health and social care professionals.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed. These included training records, incident records and quality assurance processes.

What we did after the inspection

We sought assurance about records involving people's care and support needs and preferences.

Updated 22 July 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Walkern Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to three people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to four people. Each person’s accommodation included a self-contained lounge, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom as well as a shared garden area and summer house.

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

Right support

People were supported in a safe environment. Staff supported people them in a safe way. Staff followed safe practice to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading within the service.

Staff encouraged people to live full lives and meet their goals which included learning new skills. People were supported by staff to do things they enjoyed and to get out and about.

The provider, management and staff team developed the service in way that ensured they had the resources and knowledge to support people when they experienced periods of distress. Restrictions were minimised and people had the freedom and choice how to live their lives.

Staff received the right training for their role, and this included training for specific complex needs people had. Staff received training in the use of restraint and positive behaviour support. At the time of our inspection, they had no needed to use physical restraint but knew if it was needed it was as a last resort and for the shortest time possible.

People were supported to communicate their needs, views and choices. Communication plans and tools were personalised to enable this. People were supported to personalise their rooms.

People were supported to access the community and to join in with activities and days out in their local area. People were supported by staff to live healthy lifestyles and access health and social care support. This helped improve people’s wellbeing. Medicines were managed safely and regularly reviewed.

Right care

People received support and care that was kind, compassionate and reflected people’s own culture and preferences. Staff promoted people’s equality and diversity, supporting and responding to their individual needs. People’s care plans were an accurate reflection of the support they needed and what people could do independently. They included strategies and plans to help people reach their aspirations and goals.

Staff had received training on safeguarding people from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. There were enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. The service rarely used agency staff.

People were supported by staff who had a good understanding of people’s needs, how people communicated and what their preferences were. Staff listened to people. People received care that supported their needs and aspirations, was focused on their quality of life, and followed best practice.

Right culture

The provider, manager and staff monitored the quality of service provided to people. People, their relatives, staff and professionals were involved in the process.

People were supported by staff who had a good understanding of best practice and how to implement this into their roles. Staff put people's wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.

People and their relatives were involved in planning their care. People also had the support and involvement of an advocate. This helped to ensure that people had a service that was tailored to them. Staff respected people and their views. People had been put at the forefront of all they did. The risk of a closed culture was minimised as people received care and support in line with their wishes, and staff were open and inclusive.

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

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.

Rating at last inspection

This service was rated requires improvement (published 28 June 2019). At the last inspection, the service was not rated (published 24 March 2021).

Why we inspected

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

Follow up

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