Archived: Cedar Lodge

Updated 24 November 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

The inspection took place on 18 October 2017 and was unannounced. Due to the small size of the service, one inspector carried out the inspection.

Before the inspection we reviewed the evidence we had about the service. This included any notifications of significant events, such as serious injuries or safeguarding referrals. Notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. The registered manager had 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 also received feedback by email from three social care professionals and one activity professional prior to our inspection.

During the inspection people were not able to tell us directly about their experience due to their communication needs. Instead we observed the support they received and the interactions they had with staff. We spoke with two staff, the registered manager as well as the provider’s group manager.

We looked at the care records of three people, including their assessments, care plans and risk assessments. We looked at how medicines were managed and records relating to this. We checked two staff recruitment records, minutes of staff meetings and records of staff training and supervision. We looked at records used to monitor the quality of the service, such as health and safety checks and the provider’s audits of different aspects of the service.

After the inspection we received feedback from four relatives about the care their family members received.

Updated 24 November 2017

Cedar Lodge provides accommodation, personal care and support for up to six adults who have a learning disability. There were four people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 18 October 2017.

There was a registered manager in place, who had taken up their post since our last inspection. 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 registered manager assisted us with our inspection.

Cedar Lodge was last inspected in October 2015 where they were given an overall rating of ‘Good’. We found at this service, the level of good care provided to people had been sustained.

People were supported by caring staff. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their privacy and dignity. People were supported to be as independent as they could be and make decisions for themselves. People had access to activities that recognised their interests. The registered manager promoted community awareness within the local area. There were good relationships with people in neighbouring Ashcroft homes.

People were supported to eat safely. People who had needs related to eating and drinking had been reviewed by a speech and language therapist. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s dietary requirements and supported people to eat a varied and healthy diet.

People were provided with appropriate care as there were guidelines in place for staff on how to provide the support. Where necessary, referrals had been made to health and social care professionals to ensure that people received appropriate care. People’s care plans were person-centred and contained information relevant to people such as their care needs as well as their interests and past history.

People were helped to stay safe because staff understood any risks to people and staff took action to minimise these risks. There were sufficient staff to keep people safe and meet their needs whether people remained at home or went out into the local area. Staff understood their roles in keeping people safe and protecting them from abuse. The provider carried out appropriate pre-employment checks before staff started work.

People’s consent was sought prior to them receiving any care. Where people lacked capacity to give informed consent staff acted in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This included taking the least restrictive approach with people where possible.

People’s medicines were managed safely and records demonstrated people received the medicines they required. Accidents and incidents were recorded and reviewed to ensure any measures that could prevent a recurrence had been implemented. Staff maintained a safe environment, including appropriate standards of fire safety. There was a contingency plan in place to help ensure people would continue to receive care in the event of an emergency.

People were cared for by staff who had access to the induction, training and support they needed to do their jobs. Staff told us they received regular supervision and felt the staff team worked well together and supported each other.

The provider had an appropriate complaints procedure which explained how complaints would be managed. Complaints received were responded to appropriately and discussed within the staff team.

People lived in a service which was well managed. Relatives told us the registered manager provided good leadership for the home and staff told us the registered manager gave them encouragement and support. The registered manager managed another of the provider’s registered homes but demonstrated that this did not diminish their ability to manage Cedar Lodge effectively. In addition they supported registered managers in other Ashcroft homes. Records were well organised, up to date and stored confidentially where necessary and the registered manager was aware of their statutory requirements in relation to their registration with CQC.

Staff meetings were used as an opportunity to discuss all aspects of the service. People were encouraged to attend and contribute to team meetings. Relatives were asked for their feedback about the service provided and an annual staff survey was carried out. The registered manager used feedback about the service to improve the care that people received.

The provider’s quality monitoring checks helped to ensure people received safe and effective care. Staff made regular in-house checks and the provider’s area manager carried out a monthly audit.