Background to this inspection
Updated
9 May 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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team: The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.
Service and service type: Autumn Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at on 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: This inspection was unannounced.
What we did: We reviewed all information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included, previous inspection reports and details of incidents that the provider had notified us about.
During the inspection we spoke with nine people and two relatives to ask about their experience of the care provided. We observed how staff provided care throughout the inspection including during the mid-day meal. We also spoke with three staff, the deputy manager, the registered manager, the provider and two visiting health professionals about the service’s performance. Following the inspection, we received additional feedback from a further four relatives and five heath care professionals.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and a selection of medicine records. We also looked at three staff files around staff recruitment. Various records in relation to training and supervision of staff, records relating to the management of the home and the service policies and procedures.
Updated
9 May 2019
About the service: Autumn Lodge is a care home that supports up to 18 people.
People’s experience of using this service:
People enjoyed living at Autumn Lodge and there was happy and relaxed atmosphere within the service. Staff were attentive and had a good understanding of people’s backgrounds and current support needs. All new staff shadowed experienced carers for a month before providing care independently and staff training was regularly refreshed.
People felt safe in the service and staff had a detailed understanding of their role in protecting people from all forms of abuse or discrimination. Diversity was valued and celebrated within the service and staff were supported to become dignity champions.
Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. Support was provided at a relaxed pace and staff took every opportunity to spend time chatting with people.
Care records were informative and staff understood people individual needs. There was a programme of activities which included external entertainers. On the day of our inspection there was plenty of laughter and people enjoyed playing games and singing along with the registered manager.
Wi FI internet access was available throughout the service to people and visitors and the service had trialled and adopted the use of new technologies where this impacted positively on people’s well-being.
The service was exceptionally well-led. Staff were well motivated and told us they enjoyed working at the service. Relatives and professionals were highly complimentary of the service leadership and told us they would happily recommend this service to anyone.
At our previous inspection the service was rated Good. (Report published 25 August 2016)
Why we inspected: This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned based on the rating. If we receive any concerns we may bring our inspection forward.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk