Tudor Lodge is a residential care home for up to 56 older people, some of whom have dementia. The building offers accommodation over two floors with lift access to each floor. People have access to communal lounge and dining areas, an accessible garden and outside space. There were 52 people living at the home at the time of inspection.Tudor Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
People were protected from avoidable harm because staff understood how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report any concerns. There were enough staff to provide safe care and recruitment checks had ensured they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. Staff understood the risks people faced and ther role in managing these safely. The service was responsive when things went wrong and reviewed practices in a timely manner. Medicines were administered and managed safely by trained staff.
Pre-admission assessments included information about peoples’ physical, religious, emotional and mental health needs to ensure that these could be effectively met. There were assessments of capacity and decisions made in people’s best interests where required. Feedback about the meals and drinks available was positive and where people needed foods prepared in a certain way to eat safely, this was accommodated. Staff received support through supervision and had access to relevant training opportunities to provide them with the correct skills and knowledge for their role.
People were supported by staff who were kind and compassionate in their approach. We observed informal interactions, the use of tactile contact and staff communicating with people in ways which were meaningful for them. People were offered choices about how they spent their time and were supported with respect by staff who protected people’s dignity and promoted their independence. Visitors were welcomed whenever they wished to visit and were encouraged to feedback through informal discussions, resident and relative meetings and surveys.
People received person centred care which was responsive to their changing needs and wishes. There were regular reviews of people’s care plans and staff were kept up to date with any changes. People were supported by staff to engage in a range of social opportunities which included some group activities, one to one time with staff and a range of visits from external providers. People and relatives were aware about how to raise concerns if needed and where complaints had been received, these had been investigated and responded to. End of life care was person centred and planned with people to ensure that wishes and preferences were understood and respected.
The service had an open and positive culture. Leadership was visible and promoted good teamwork. Staff spoke highly about the management and had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Audits and quality assurance processes were effective in driving service improvements. The service understood their legal responsibilities for reporting and sharing information with other services.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.