Catherine Lodge

Updated 25 February 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 26 January 2021 and was announced.

Updated 25 February 2021

This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection, to make sure the service was providing care that is safe, caring, effective, responsive to people's needs, and well-led. The inspection took place on 13 and 19 December 2018.

Catherine Lodge is a ‘care home’. The accommodation is purpose-built with passenger lift and stairlift access to the first and second floors. People living in this care home receive accommodation along with 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.

The service had a registered manager, which 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 service is registered to provide accommodation for up to 39 people. There were 35 people using the service at the start of this inspection. The service specialises in the care of older adults including those living with dementia or mental health needs.

At our last rating inspection in April 2016, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good.

Everybody we spoke with was complimentary about Catherine Lodge and many mentioned the kindness of the staff. A typical overall comment from someone using the service was, “I don’t think I would find a better place.” Relatives’ and representatives’ comments included, “I can’t speak highly enough of them” and “If I had to go somewhere, I would come here.”

We found the service could demonstrate a good record for improving some people’s health and welfare. This was partly through collaborative working with community professionals. The registered manager also ensured high standards of care through a hands-on approach. This influenced staff to work well as a team to provide high quality care for people.

We found the approach of staff to be responsive to people’s individual needs and choices. Staff noticed and responded when people needed support. People’s routines and choices were identified and supported. Staff respected rather than challenged people’s reality and experiences, and worked with them to achieve positive, safe outcomes.

The service had a stable staff team which helped trusting relationships develop with people using it. Staff and managers knew people well as individuals, and people were often supported by their preferred staff members. Staff had time for people and were encouraged to sit and interact with them. This helped ensure the service’s caring approach and the support of people emotionally.

The service provided a range of stimulating activities that people enjoyed. There was a strong focus on music and movement amongst the various activities provided, and effort was made to engage people. Some people were also supported to go out to locally.

The service was skilled at supporting people at the end of their life to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death. This had been verified by a national organisation that took into account good practice in palliative care and feedback from relatives and representatives of people who had passed on at the service.

Good attention was paid to ensuring people were supported to eat and drink enough and maintain a nutritious diet. People’s preferences were sought and individual diets were catered for. People received their medicines as and when prescribed.

People were treated respectfully and consent was appropriately sought for the support to be provided. People’s independence was encouraged, and adjustments were made to the well-maintained premises in support of this.

The premises were kept clean and people were protected from the risk of infection. The service paid good attention to people’s personal care needs such as through offering daily showers.

The service had systems in place to keep people safe from the risk of abuse and hazards. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and support. There was consistently enough staff working at the service.

The service regularly sought the views of people using the service and their representatives, listened to people’s concerns and suggestions, and adjusted care and support accordingly. Visitors were welcomed at the service, which helped people using it to maintain relationships.

The registered manager had successfully run the service for many years, and had a clear vision for it. This included working in partnership with people using the service, their representatives, and community professionals. There was good support and clear guidance for staff, to help ensure high standards of care were provided. There were effective arrangements in place for monitoring the quality of the service, to help ensure continuous learning and improvement.