We inspected The Lodge on 16 January 2016. The inspection was unannounced. The Lodge was last inspected in July 2014, no concerns were identified at that inspection.The Lodge provides accommodation and support for up to six people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. On the day of the inspection six people were receiving care services from the provider. The home had a registered manager. A registered manager 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.
During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service. We also spoke with four members of care staff, the registered manager and two nurses. During our visit to the service we looked at the care records for six people and looked at records that related to how the service was managed.
People who used this service were safe. The care staff knew how to identify if a person may be at risk of harm and the action to take if they had concerns about a person’s safety.
The care staff knew the people they were supporting and the choices they had made about their care and their lives. People who used the service, and those who were
important to them, were included in planning and agreeing to the care provided.
The decisions people made were respected. People were supported to maintain their independence and control over their lives. People received care from a team of staff who they knew and who knew them. People were treated with kindness and respect. People we spoke with told us, “Staff are nice and friendly, I like them a lot.”
The registered manager used safe recruitment systems to ensure that new staff were only employed if they were suitable to work with vulnerable people. The staff employed by the service were aware of their responsibility to protect people from harm or abuse. They told us they would be confident reporting any concerns to a senior person in the service or to the local authority or CQC.
There were sufficient staff, with appropriate experience, training and skills to meet people’s needs. The service was well managed and took appropriate action if expected standards were not met. This ensured people received a safe service that promoted their rights and independence.
Staff were well supported through a system of induction, training, supervision, appraisal and professional development. There was a positive culture within the service which was demonstrated by the attitudes of staff when we spoke with them and their approach to supporting people to maintain their independence.
The service was well-led. There was a comprehensive, formal quality assurance process in place. This meant that all aspects of the service were formally monitored to
ensure good care was provided and planned improvements and changes could be implemented in a timely manner.