Cedar Lodge

Updated 17 October 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector, one assistant inspector and an Expert by Experience on the first day. On the second day one inspector. 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

Cedar 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.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

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 spoke with 10 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided, and seven visitors. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager and two deputy managers. We spoke with four visiting health professionals

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and two medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policy and procedures were reviewed.

During the inspection-

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.

After the inspection –

Following the inspection, we received feedback from two health professionals and the registered manager sent us additional evidence and staff training information.

Updated 17 October 2019

About the service

Cedar Lodge is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to people aged 65 and over. This registration also includes The Limes, a purpose-built recovery and rehabilitation centre adjoining Cedar Lodge. The Limes provides support for up to 15 people (mainly younger people) with a range of mental health conditions to support and enable them to move forward into the wider community. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 39 people in Cedar Lodge and 13 people in The Limes.

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

There was a very homely and welcoming atmosphere where people were supported by staff who were very respectful, kind and caring. Feedback about the compassionate and caring approach of staff was positive. People were treated with dignity and respect in a way that truly valued them as individuals.

There was a person-centred culture that was driven by a motivated and committed staff team. They constantly looked for ways to improve the service and ensured people received the personalised care they deserved. The staff team told us they were truly valued and respected. They were skilled, motivated and knowledgeable. Staff told us they were encouraged to progress and develop.

People were placed at the centre of the service and were genuinely consulted in relation to all decisions about their care and the service. Families and visitors were welcomed into the service and were full of praise for the genuine warmth and kindness they experienced.

The service was very well-led. The registered manager demonstrated how their open and listening management style and robust quality assurance systems had sustained continual development and improvement at the service. They were clear about their expectations relating to how the service should be provided and led by example.

There were effective and robust quality assurance systems in place to monitor and improve the service and to ensure legal requirements were met. This meant people were at the heart of the service .The registered manager shared examples of the service being used to share best practice approaches to other homes.

People and relatives were complimentary about the food. Where people had specific dietary requirements, they received food and drink to ensure their needs were met.

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.

Rating at last inspection:

The last rating for this service was Good (published 12 January 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last comprehensive inspection.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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