Walton Lodge

Updated 25 July 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 28 June 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by an adult social care inspector. At the time of our inspection there were 20 people using the service.

Prior to the inspection visit we gathered information from a number of sources. We also looked at the information received about the service from notifications sent to the Care Quality Commission by the registered manager. We looked at the provider information return [PIR]. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also spoke with other professionals supporting people at the service, to gain further information about the service.

We spoke with three people who used the service and three relatives of people living at the home. We spent time observing staff interacting with people.

We also 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.

We spoke with staff including care workers, catering staff, the registered manager, the deputy manager and other members of the management team. We looked at documentation relating to people who used the service, staff and the management of the service. We looked at four people’s care and support records, including the plans of their care. We saw the systems used to manage people’s medication, including the storage and records kept. We also looked at the quality assurance systems to check if they were robust and identified areas for improvement.

Updated 25 July 2018

The inspection took place on 28 June 2018 and was unannounced. The last comprehensive inspection took place in June 2017 when we identified two breaches of Regulation and the registered provider was rated Requires Improvement. The registered provider did not have safe arrangements in place for managing medicines. We also found that systems in place to monitor the quality of the service did not always identify concerns. The registered provider sent us an action plan detailing how they would address the issues raised on our inspection.

At this inspection we checked if improvements had been made. We found that the registered provider had addressed all the concerns raised at our last inspection and the service was rated Good. You can read the report from our last inspections, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘Walton Lodge’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Walton Lodge is a care home for adults aged between 18-65 years old that have severe learning disabilities and autism. The home consists of a large converted bungalow which accommodates 14 people and a separate building (Fairways) which accommodates six people. Fairways supports people who are working to develop their independent living skills. There is plenty of accessible outside space which is secure and safe. The home is located on the outskirts of Doncaster.

The registered provider was working within the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the time of our inspection the service 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.

The registered provider had systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff knew what action to take if they suspected abuse.

Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed appropriately and in a manner which did not unnecessarily restrict their freedoms. Risk assessments clearly demonstrated what actions were required to minimise risk.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who were knowledgeable about their needs and knew how to support them.

Accidents and incidents were monitored to identify and address any patterns or trends. This ensured people were safe and action was taken to ensure repeated incidents were kept to a minimum.

The registered provider had systems in place to ensure people received their medicine as prescribed. However, one medicine store room required a thermometer to monitor the temperature. This was resolved by the registered manager on the evening of our inspection.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The registered provider ensured staff received training appropriate for their role. Staff told us they felt supported and received one to one sessions with their manager to discuss work related issues.

People were supported to maintain a balanced diet which met their needs and took account of their preferences. People had access to healthcare professionals as required.

We observed staff interacting with people and found they were kind and caring. Staff knew people well and responded to their needs in an understanding way. Through our observations and by looking at care and support plans, we found that people received personalised care which was responsive to their needs.

The registered provider had a complaints procedure in place and people and relatives we spoke with felt at ease to raise concerns.

The registered manager completed a range of audits to ensure the service was running in line with the registered providers policies and procedures. People and their relatives were asked for feedback about the service and were kept up dated about any changes.

Further information is in the detailed findings below