OSJCT Bemerton Lodge

Updated 23 December 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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

OSJCT Bemerton Lodge is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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 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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care workers, cleaners and the chef. We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people’s care records and multiple 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 policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with one professional who regularly visits the service.

Updated 23 December 2021

About the service

OSJCT Bemerton Lodge is a care home providing accommodation and personal for up to 56 older people, some of whom may have dementia. At the time of the inspection 42 people were living in the home.

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

People's individual risks were managed in a safe way and environmental risk assessments were completed appropriately however improvements were identified in how the service managed the number of admissions into the service. People were kept safe. Staff were confident in protecting people from abuse. The provider learned from previous accidents and incidents to reduce future risks. Staff were recruited in a safe way and there were enough staff deployed to meet people's needs. Arrangements were in place for the safe administration of medicines. Infection control processes were embedded into the service and staff followed government guidance in relation to infection control and prevention practices.

An auditing process was in place to monitor the quality and safety of service provision. There was organisational learning from incidents, and concerns/complaints were well managed. The majority of staff spoke positively about management. They felt well supported and they could talk to the management team at any time, feeling confident any concerns would be acted on promptly. People views were obtained in the running of the service. Relatives provided mixed feedback regarding engagement from the service. However, all were confident to raise any concerns directly with management.

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

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 10 September 2019) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection took place in response to concerns we received about the safety of the service and to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection. This was in relation to risk management and governance of the service. This focused inspection looked at the key questions of safe and well-led.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection

The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for OSJCT Bemerton Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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