Colin Garden Lodge

Updated 5 August 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

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Colin Garden 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.

At the time of the inspection the service had a manager who was in the process of being registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that, once registered, they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. At the time of publication of this report, the manager had successfully completed their registration.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 the two people who used the service and observed their interactions with staff. We spoke with four members of staff including the regional manager, manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records, medication records and management related records including policies and procedures. We also looked at three staff recruitment files.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives by telephone about their experience of the service and another care worker. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We requested for further information to be sent for review including training data, quality assurance records, risk assessments, policies and procedures.

Updated 5 August 2021

About the service

Colin Garden Lodge is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to three people in one adapted building. There were two people using the service at the time of this inspection. The service specialises in the care and support of people with learning disabilities.

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

We received positive feedback from people and their relatives. Relatives had no concerns around the safety of their loved ones living at the home. There was a suitable and consistent team of staff who maintained good relationships with people. The home had systems in place to manage people’s risks and to ensure they receive their medicines as they should. Staff were well aware of the risks related to COVID-19 and had measures in place to prevent the spread of infection.

The service had effective training systems in place to ensure staff were competent and skilled to provide care centred on people’s assessed needs and preferences. The home was well decorated and people were supported by staff to express their preferences. People were also able to choose what they would like to eat and drink. Staff supported people to maintain healthy lifestyles and have regular access to appropriate healthcare.

There was a pleasant atmosphere in the home where people and staff felt included and valued. Relatives felt the home was well managed and staff told us they received all the support they required to do their work. The manager and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Based on our review of safe, effective and well-led, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

People were comfortable to express their views and make choices in their day to day lives. They were involved in making decisions about their care and staff supported them to be as independent as they could. Staff built positive relationships with people and provided them with individualised care while respecting their dignity, privacy and human rights. Management ensured staff were given the right support to promote a culture where people felt safe and able to live meaningful lives.

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 5 November 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating where we focused on the key questions Safe, Effective 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 remained the same. 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.

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.