Background to this inspection
Updated
6 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection Team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Willow Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or 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 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
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This is because the service is small and we needed to ensure managers were available to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with three people living in the home. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and five members of staff. We spoke with the relatives of four people. We reviewed a range of records. This included care records for two people, medicine records for three people, the training matrix, three staff recruitment files and staff meeting notes. We also looked at a range of records related to the management of the service; this included people's feedback and quality monitoring.
Updated
6 August 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
About the service
Willow Lodge provides personal care and accommodation for people with a learning disability and/or autism in six separate living units within one large adapted property. Each unit has a bedroom, bathroom, living room and storeroom and/or kitchenette. There are gardens and an external building which could be developed for a variety of uses.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
People were supported to have meaningful lives because staff ensured people had access to a broad range of activities within their local community. People were encouraged to maintain and develop their independence because staff supported them to achieve carefully considered goals.
The provider ensured staff had the skills and knowledge required to support people to be safe when engaging in activities and tasks.
The service supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence be independent and they had control over their own lives.
Right Care
People received compassionate and kind care from staff committed to supporting them in ways which promoted their dignity and respect. Care records included high-quality details which provided useful insight into how each person preferred to live. Care records respected people's individuality, personal experiences and cultural needs.
Staff understood how to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm because they were able to identify concerns and raise them appropriately. Records showed all concerns had been fully investigated and resolved.
Right Culture
People's quality of life and preferences were at the heart of the care and support provided. Staff were proactive and creative in seeking the best way to improve people's experiences.
The provider and registered manager promoted openness and candour within the service. Staff were encouraged to share their views and raise any concerns they had. This helped engender an open culture.
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 12 August 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.