Dr. Ashdown's Stockton Lodge

Updated 4 March 2023

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

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

An inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Dr. Ashdown's Stockton Lodge is a ‘care home’, which provides nursing care. People in care homes receive accommodation, nursing and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local commissioners and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided and contacted 7 relatives. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with the registered manager, 4 nurses, 2 senior carers and 12 other care staff members.

We reviewed a range of records, which included 4 people’s care records, medicine records, staff files and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 4 March 2023

About the service

Dr. Ashdown's Stockton Lodge is a nursing home providing accommodation for up to 39 older people and people living with a dementia. There were 30 people using the service when we visited.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Risk assessments were clear and readily identified how to mitigate them. Staff were familiar with these documents and the actions they needed to take. The electronic care record templates didn’t always offer the range needed and couldn’t be modified. The registered manager was in the process of finding a different more effective electronic care record system.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The electronic care records needed some enhancements made to support staff to evidence the relevant documents had been completed. The registered manager had identified this gap in practice and had measures in place to ensure staff completed these in a paper format.

There were enough staff on duty and staff were recruited safely. People told us staff were caring and they felt safe. We observed staff deliver care and support in a kind and compassionate manner. It was clear staff understood people's needs and how to manage any presenting risks.

People were protected from abuse by staff who understood how to identify and report any concerns. Incident monitoring records were appropriately used to understand themes and reasons for the events. Medicine management was effective. Staff adhered to government infection control and prevention guidance.

The systems the registered manager had in place allowed them to critically review the service and proactively looked at how improvements could be made. Staff told us that the registered manager was approachable and listened to their views. People felt the registered manager was running a good service.

Staff were passionate about providing good care outcomes and took ownership for their practice. They had established good working relationships with all visiting professionals, and this had supported them to deliver effective care and support.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 21 September 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe and well-led. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Dr. Ashdown's Stockton Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.