We carried out a review of the data available to us about Jasmine Lodge on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Jasmine Lodge, you can give feedback on this service.
Milton Lodge is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living in their own homes who have a range of needs, including people with a learning disability and autism. Some people lived in homes at the same place the office was located, whilst others lived off site. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection nine people were receiving personal care.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Some people being supported by Milford lodge were not able to have fully verbal conversations with us. However, when asked if they felt the staff treated them kindly, people responded with smiles. Comments included, “Yes”, “Yes, I like it here” and “Staff help me.”
People were supported to be safe. There were systems and processes in place to ensure people were protected from the risks of avoidable harm. The provider had a policy and procedure for safeguarding adults and the registered manager and staff understood the potential signs of abuse to look for.
People were supported to manage their medicines safely by staff who were appropriately trained.
Risk assessments were completed for people and they were supported to manage risks in their home environment, to ensure safety. There was a system to manage accidents and incidents to reduce them happening again.
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.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
Staff completed regular training and understood their responsibilities. The staff demonstrated that they knew people well and told us they were proud to work for the service. Staff were motivated, and continuous learning was embedded in the service’s culture.
People's needs were assessed to ensure these could be met by the service. The registered manager and staff worked with other external professionals to ensure people received effective care.
People were supported to engage in meaningful activities and the provider actively looked to develop new opportunities that enhanced people’s wellbeing. Staff supported people and showed an understanding of equality and diversity and people were treated with dignity, and their privacy was respected. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care and people were supported to be involved in making decisions about their own lives.
There was a clearly defined management structure and regular oversight and input from the provider. The registered manager and provider carried out regular checks on the quality and safety of the service. Staff felt supported by the management and told us the registered manager and provider were approachable.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 8 May 2017). This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.
Milton Lodge is based in Bognor Regis and is registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. When we inspected the service there were 19 people receiving support in five properties. 18 of which, received personal care. There was a main building containing five flats, two studios and two bungalows. The office was based on the same site as people’s homes. Each person held a tenancy with their landlord. The service is registered to support people who have a learning disability and people who live with autism.
At the time of the inspection, there was no registered manager at the service. However, there was a manager in post, who commenced in January 2017; they had submitted an application to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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.
Risks to people's wellbeing and safety had been effectively mitigated. We found individual risks had been assessed and recorded in people's care plans. Examples of risk assessments relating to personal care included moving and handling, nutrition, falls and continence support. Health care needs were met well, with prompt referrals made when necessary.
People told us they felt safe receiving the care and support provided by the service. Staff understood and knew the signs of potential abuse and knew what to do if they needed to raise a safeguarding concern. Training schedules confirmed staff had received training in safeguarding adults at risk.
Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been made before staff began work at the service. There were sufficient levels of staff to protect people's health, safety and welfare in a consistent and reliable way.
Policies and procedures were in place to ensure the safe ordering, administration, storage and disposal of medicines. Medicines were managed safely.
The management team and staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. They had made appropriate applications to the relevant authorities to ensure people's rights were protected.
People chose their own food and drink and were supported to maintain a balanced diet where this was required.
People said staff were caring and kind and their individual needs were met. Staff knew people well and demonstrated they had a good understanding of people's needs and choices. Staff treated people with kindness, compassion and respect. Staff recognised people's right to privacy and promoted their dignity.
We looked at care records and found good standards of person centred care planning. Care plans represented people's needs, preferences and life stories to enable staff to fully understand people's needs and wishes. The good level of person centred care meant people led independent lifestyles, maintained relationships and were fully involved in the local community.
Staff felt supported by management, they said they were well trained and understood what was expected of them. Staff were encouraged to provide feedback and report concerns to improve the service.
There was a complaints policy and information regarding the complaints procedure was available. Complaints were listened to, investigated in a timely manner, and used to improve the service. Feedback from people was positive regarding the standard of care they received.
The manager had developed an open and positive culture, which focussed on improving the experience for people and staff. She welcomed suggestions for improvement and acted on these. Staff were supported and listened to by the manager and were clear about their responsibilities.
There was an effective quality assurance system. Audits were analysed to identify where improvements could be made and these were implemented. There was an on-going development plan for the service to ensure it continued to develop and sustain improvements made.
We visited and spoke with four people who were receiving support in the independent living services. They told us that that staff helped them with things they found difficult like cooking or managing their money. One person said that 'staff really help me live my life.'
People told us that staff were 'very friendly' and cared about us. They showed us that they had been involved in building their support plans and told us that staff looked after their health.
People felt safe. Staff demonstrated appropriate knowledge and understanding of the different types of abuse and processes were in place to safeguard people.
Staff had received relevant training to help them support people's needs and were supported to continue their development and skills through regular supervision.
Systems and processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service to ensure that people's needs were met. People's views and experiences were sought and considered in the development of the service.