Archived: Sycamore Lodge Residential Care

We found the following examples of good practice.

People were supported to have visitors in line with current guidance. Visitors were required to have a lateral flow test and wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). A designated room for visits was cleaned before and after use.

People's wellbeing during lockdown had been considered and person centred activities were put in place. For example, quiz nights were held for people who had enjoyed these in the community prior to the pandemic.

Cleaning schedules were enhanced to include high touch areas and two hourly sanitisation of the home.

Staff wore PPE in line with government guidance. Designated areas were available for staff to don and doff PPE.

Risk assessments for COVID-19 were in place for people and staff. These considered individual risk factors such as those from the Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) community.

People told us they felt safe living at the home. Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of abuse and said they would talk to the management or external bodies immediately if they had any concerns. Risk assessments were in place, which identified possible risks and how to manage them.

Support plans and staffing levels were changed when people’s needs changed or if there were lessons to be learnt following incidents.

Staff told us they received the support and training they needed to help them do their jobs well. Managers were proactive in ensuring staff completed training relevant to the needs of people living at the service. People had access to food and drink throughout the day and could choose what they had to eat. The environment was designed to allow people to socialise with others or spend time on their own and there were facilities for people to practice independent living skills.

People’s independence was maintained and promoted and staff respected people’s dignity and privacy. People were supported to keep in touch with friends and relatives where they so wished and we saw that interactions between people and staff were warm and respectful.

People knew how to complain or raise concerns. Complaints were investigated thoroughly. Staff knew people’s likes and routines well and delivered care and support in line with people’s preferences.

The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. Actions were taken and improvements were made when required. People and staff felt able to speak to the registered manager at any time if they needed help and assistance and the provider ensured there was 24 hour support available.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good (19 April 2016)

About the service:

Sycamore Lodge is a residential care home that provides personal care and support for people with mental health difficulties. At the time of the inspection there were 12 people using the service.

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.

Further details about the service can be found in the full report.

Why we inspected:

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

Enforcement:

No enforcement action was required.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

At the time of our inspection 11 people lived at Sycamore Lodge. During our inspection we spoke with six people who lived there and four staff.

Generally, everyone we spoke with was happy with the service provided, their care, and the staff. One person who lived there told us, 'I was in another home before I came here. We could not go out. Here we can go out when we want to'. Another person said, 'I like it here'.

We saw that people were treated with respect and dignity. Staff supported people wherever possible to be independent and to make choices.

We saw that people's needs had been assessed by a range of health care professionals including specialist doctors and the optician. This meant that staff had enabled people to have their health care and safety needs monitored and met.

We found that processes were in place to safeguard people who lived there from the risk of harm and abuse.

Our concerns regarding inadequate staffing levels were listened to and addressed during our inspection to ensure that people's needs could be met and that they would be safe.

We saw that complaints processes were in place for people to use if they were not happy with the service provided.

People were asked for their consent to the care and support they received and staff respected their wishes.

We saw that people were encouraged to do things for themselves so promoting their independence skills and self esteem. One person said, 'It's nice here, I can come and go as I please.'

We saw that people were supported to have regular health checks of their physical and mental health to ensure their well being.

Systems were in place to ensure that people were safeguarded from harm. We saw that people were comfortable in the company of staff. One person said, 'The staff are very nice and I get on with them. They are always there to talk to so my troubles don't build up.'

Staff received most of the training they needed and told us they were well supported in their role.

People were asked for their views about the home and these were listened to. Audits were completed and action taken where needed to make improvements.