Heath Lodge

Updated 10 January 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the registered 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.

Inspection team

The 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

Heath Lodge is a 'care home.' People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection. At the time of the inspection the service had a manager registered with CQC. Registered managers and the registered provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included any statutory notifications sent to us by the registered provider about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law. We also contacted local commissioners of the service to gain their views. 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 this information to formulate a 'planning tool'; this helped us to identify key areas we needed to focus on during the inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, area manager, three members of staff and four people living at the service.

We looked at care records of two people receiving support, a sample of two staff recruitment files, medication records and other records and documentation relating to the management and quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 10 January 2020

About the service

Heath Lodge provides care and accommodation for up to eight adults with a learning disability, mental health needs and complex needs. At the time of the inspection there were six people living there.

Although the service had not initially been developed and designed in line with all of the principles and values that underpin 'Registering the right support' and other best practice guidance it did fulfil the criteria and 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. The provider advised they would review the principles in practice to see how they could update the service to further reflect best practice.

We have made a recommendation for the registered provider to review best practice guidance in updating their service and on reflecting the principles of 'Registering the Right Support.'

People living at Heath Lodge and their relatives told us that their experience of using the service was overall very positive. People consistently told us how they were treated with kindness from all of the staff who were also very supportive. People told us they had enjoyed activities and events that they had been supported with.

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.

Staff were well trained in various topics appropriate to their role. They were knowledgeable in how to safeguard people from the risk of harm and abuse and were well trained in safely managing people's medications. People received care and support by staff who had been appropriately recruited and had undergone the necessary recruitment checks.

We found there was an effective process in place to monitor the quality and safety of care people received. Quality assurance checks were routinely carried out and the provision of care was monitored, assessed and improved upon accordingly. We noted some improvements were needed in the record keeping of staff rotas for one to one support and in accurately signing records.

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 'requires improvement' (published 23 October 2018).

Why we inspected

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.