The Lodge Care Home

Updated 10 August 2022

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 Care Act 2014.

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

The Lodge Care Home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people, two relatives, one visiting healthcare professional and six staff, including the registered manager, regional manager, wellbeing lead and care staff. We spoke with nine relatives over the telephone and six staff over the telephone.

We observed interactions between staff and people in communal areas, including at lunchtime. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, were reviewed. We contacted three further health and social care professionals via email.

Updated 10 August 2022

About the service

The Lodge Care Home is a residential care home situated in South Shields. It provides accommodation and personal care for up to 52 older people. The service does not provide nursing care. At the time of our inspection 44 people used at the service, some of whom were living with dementia.

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

People felt at home. They were supported by staff who knew them well. They interacted warmly with staff and the atmosphere, particularly on the ground floor, was welcoming and vibrant.

Risks to people's health and safety were assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff followed these plans to ensure people’s safety.

There were occasions when there not enough staff to meet people’s needs promptly. The provider’s dependency tool did not consider how people chose to use the environment and the impacts on staffing requirements. We have made a recommendation about this.

The provider had safeguarding and whistleblowing policies and systems in place. Staff understood these and how to identify potential signs of abuse. They worked well with external partners to keep people safe, though some felt that communication could be improved further.

The registered manager and regional management reviewed data regarding falls and incidents.

The environment was well maintained and clean. The outdoor space had been used creatively, with relaxed seating areas and a play space for visitor’s young children.

Staff were recruited safely. They received an initial induction and ongoing training, support and competence checks.

Medicines were stored and administered safely. The registered manager and regional manager demonstrated they had dealt with a recent medicines incident thoroughly and had made changes to improve safety.

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.

People’s nutritional needs were understood and feedback regarding meals was positive. Staff used nationally recognised tools to monitor risks associated with malnutrition.

Staff interacted sensitively with people throughout the inspection.

Planned activities had been impacted on by the need for the wellbeing lead to support with care delivery. They and the registered manager hoped this was a short term situation and there were plans in place to fill vacant positions. The registered manager stated they planned to use the provider’s minibus to increase outings during the summer.

The registered manager was well respected by staff and external partners. Feedback from external specialists was positive regarding the leadership of the service.

Clear systems were in place to maintain oversight of the service.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 13 May 2021 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service, under the previous provider, was good published on 26 September 2017.

Why we inspected

This inspection was planned based on the date the service registered with us.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.