Archived: Victoria Lodge

Updated 16 March 2016

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 was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, looked at the overall quality of the service, and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 2 February 2016 and was unannounced. This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we had about the service, including previous inspection reports, improvement plans and notifications the provider sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. The provider 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. The registered provider gave us additional information on the day of the inspection.

We spoke with or observed care and support given to most of the people who lived at the home. We spoke with the provider’s regional manager, registered manager and deputy manager. We spoke with two support staff and three people who live at the home.

We looked at the care plans and associated records for three people. We reviewed other records, including the provider’s policies and procedures, emergency plans, internal and external checks and audits, staff training, staff appraisal and supervision records, staff rotas, and recruitment records for six members of staff.

Updated 16 March 2016

This inspection took place on 2 February 2016 and was unannounced.

Victoria Lodge is registered to offer support and accommodation for up to nine people who have a past or present experience of mental ill health. On the days of our visit there were nine people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.

People said they liked living at the home and that staff provided a good supportive service. They were given the opportunity to choose activities and whether they wished to participate in them. They felt staff provided the care they needed in a way that suited them.

People came and went as they pleased during our visit. The home provided a safe environment for people to live and work in and was well maintained, furnished and clean.

The records were comprehensive and kept up to date. The care plans contained clearly recorded information. This enabled staff to support people appropriately. The home worked with people in a recovery model to assist theme to reach their goals and aspirations.

The staff were knowledgeable about the people they worked with as individuals and had appropriate skills, qualifications and training. They were focussed on providing individualised care and support in a friendly and enabling way. Staff said they had access to good training, support and career advancement.

Staff were working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 which meant that they were making sure people had support in place if they needed to be assisted with decision making.

They also worked within the principles of the Mental Health Act 1983(2007) which meant they were making sure people were safe and staff were following legal guidelines.

People were protected from nutrition and hydration associated risks by being encouraged to have balanced diets although people were encouraged to buy their own food to cook.

People were encouraged to discuss health needs with staff and had access to community based health professionals, as required.

The management team at the home were approachable, responsive, encouraged feedback from people and consistently monitored and assessed the quality of the service provided.