The Lodge

Updated 12 November 2021

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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 2 November 2021 and was announced.

Updated 12 November 2021

The Lodge is a small residential home for people on the autistic spectrum, with learning and physical disabilities and sensory impairment. The service is registered to support eight people and at the time of our inspection there were six people living there.

The service is a large property in a residential area. It was renovated to ensure it could meet people’s needs. It has seven bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. There were several communal areas, the kitchen and dining room were open plan. There was a large secure garden to the rear.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

The staff team had an excellent understanding of people's complex needs. Their care was delivered by caring and highly attentive staff. During our observations, it was clear that people had developed trusting relationships with the staff who supported them and were relaxed and comfortable in their presence. There was a strong emphasis on the key principles of care such as compassion, inclusion, respect, dignity and enablement. People were treated with dignity and respect at all times by staff who understood the need to treat private and sensitive information confidentially.

The provider was involved in the day to day management of the service and had taken unprecedented steps to ensure consistency and continuity in people’s care. People who used the service, their relatives and relevant healthcare professionals were extremely positive about the service and its management. They told us how the care and support they received had clear and lasting effects on their lives. The registered manager led by example by promoting an open and inclusive culture. They also fulfilled all of the regulatory requirements as required. The provider ensured inclusive ways of communicating with people had been developed, which meant feedback on the service could be gathered and acted upon. Quality assurance systems were effective and ensured compliance with CQC regulations and best practice guidelines.

People who used the service were supported by staff who had been recruited safely following the completion of appropriate checks. Assessments of people’s care and support needs were undertaken regularly to ensure staff were deployed in suitable numbers. Staff had been trained to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm and knew what action to take if the suspected abuse had occurred. The provider had developed plans to deal with foreseeable emergencies, which included guidance to enable staff to evacuate people safely in an emergency. People received their medicines as prescribed and suitable arrangements were in place to manage medicines safely.

People who used the service received care and support from staff who had completed a range of training to ensure they had skills and abilities to support them effectively. Staff received effective levels of supervision, appraisal and professional development. The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed within the service and staff were aware of how to gain consent from people. People ate a healthy and balanced diet of their choosing. When concerns with people’s health and welfare were identified relevant professionals were contacted for their advice and guidance.

Pre-admission assessments were completed before people moved into the service and the information was used to develop a number of person centred care plans. As people’s needs changed or developed their care plans were updated to reflect their needs and provide up to date guidance for staff. People were encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and follow their hobbies and interests. We saw that people were also supported to take annual holidays. The provider had a complaints policy in place that was displayed within the service; records showed very few complaints had been received.