Athorpe Lodge

Updated 26 February 2020

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.

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

Athorpe 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 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 eight people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, nurses, care workers, activity co-ordinator and the cook. We spent time observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We also spoke with three therapist who were based at the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 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.

Updated 26 February 2020

About the service

Athorpe Lodge is a purpose-built care home close to the centre of Dinnington. It provides accommodation for up to 94 people in four units. The care provided is for people who require nursing or personal care. Some people living at the service were living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 86 people using the service.

The home also provided accommodation for people who were medically fit for hospital discharge but required addition support and therapy prior to moving back to their own homes.

People’s experience of using this service

People were safeguarded from the risks associated with abuse. Risks associated with people's care were assessed and plans were in place and followed to minimise them. During our inspection we observed there were enough staff available to meet people’s needs. Staff we spoke with confirmed they had been recruited safely. People's medicines were managed in a safe way and people received their medicines as prescribed. Accidents and incidents were monitored and well analysed and we saw evidence of lessons learned.

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.

Staff were knowledgeable and had received appropriate training and support. People received a balanced diet which met their individual needs. People were offered choice, and this was respected. People were supported by staff who were kind and caring and who maintained their dignity and respect.

Care plans we looked at reflected people's individual needs and preferences. The provider had a complaints procedure which was appropriately followed, and people and their relatives felt able to raise issues if needed. People's end of life wishes were documented.

Audits were in place to ensure the service was monitored appropriately. Feedback about the registered manager was positive and staff felt well supported.

People were involved in the service and opportunities to give feedback were in place.

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 19 June 2018). There was also an inspection on 8 April 2019 however, the report following that inspection was withdrawn as there was an issue with some of the information that we gathered.

Why we inspected

This is a planned re-inspection because of the issue highlighted above.

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.