We carried out a review of the data available to us about Falcon 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 Falcon Lodge, you can give feedback on this service.
Falcon Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to five people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to five people who have learning disabilities and/or autism. Accommodation consisted of individual bedrooms with en-suite facilities, a shared lounge, dining room, small lounge and a large, accessible garden.
The service was designed according to the best practice guidance and the principles and values of Registering the Right Support. The service was accommodated in a large, domestic style house in a residential development and was not immediately recognisable as a care home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was safe and people were supported by staff who were well versed in safeguarding. Risks were assessed and wherever possible actions were taken to minimise risks and enable people to lead fulfilling lives. If an accident or incident occurred, this was reviewed and learning taken from it to reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.
The premises were well maintained and all necessary checks and servicing of equipment were completed. Staff were safely recruited and all pre-employment checks were completed prior to them commencing in post. Medicines were safely managed and staff were checked for competency in handling medicines before supporting people.
Staff told us they felt they were well trained and well supported by the registered manager. Regular supervisions took place and the training package for staff both at induction and throughout their employment was extensive.
Assessments and care plans were holistic and well suited to the people living at Falcon Lodge who had autism. Considerations were given to sensory impact on people and the environment as well as identifying and meeting needs. Support was person-centred and, for example, the GP or nurse would attend the service rather than people going to the surgery as this was better suited to them.
People were supported to cook meals or had meals prepared for them, always to their taste and prepared so the whole house could eat together as a family would. People were supported with weight management whether to gain or lose.
The premises were well suited to the people; necessary adaptations were in place, however, the service looked like the other residential properties on the street and had no outward signs of being a specialist provider of care and support.
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.
There was a homely atmosphere in the service and staff had very positive relationships with people living in the home. We received positive feedback from relatives about the care people received in the service and the service was likened to a family home.
People had needs that changed and the service responded well to this. People had in depth autism profiles and sensory assessments. These would signpost to other assessments and professionals as needed and the provider ensured that all necessary support was sought to enhance people’s life experiences.
Staff were aware of the most effective ways to communicate with people and these were on record in people’s care plans. These were updated as necessary with any new learning.
Activities were person-centred and people accessed the community both individually with one-to-one support and in small groups. Activities were offered in the house for some people and some people’s activity plans showed that their time was well planned to ensure their need to feel secure in their routines was met. Family events such as teas and barbeques were also arranged and relatives enjoyed these as they were able to meet and get to know each other.
There was an easy read complaints procedure available to people, however, relatives told us they had not needed to raise any concerns about the service.
When we inspected, people living in the home averaged 30 years of age and end of life care plans were not relevant to them. The provider had appropriate policies and procedures and would revisit these when more relevant.
We received positive feedback about the registered manager and there was a positive, person-centred culture in the service. There was a strong vision and staff were committed to enabling people to develop their independence and provide them with opportunities to lead happy and fulfilled lives. The registered manager fulfilled their responsibilities as a registered person and ensured that notifications to CQC were submitted and understood their responsibilities under the duty of candour.
The service had achieved accredited status from the National Autistic Society, a significant achievement and the result of hard work by the whole team.
People, relatives and staff were asked for feedback about the service through a quality assurance questionnaire. Action points were taken from the responses and addressed through service improvements. Generally people and their relatives were very happy with the support received at Falcon Lodge.
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 16 August 2017).
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.
Falcon Lodge provides accommodation and personal care for up to five people who have a learning disability. At the time of our inspection five people were using the service.
Falcon Lodge has a registered manager in post. 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.
At the last inspection, the service was rated good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.
We witnessed a service full of energy. People who lived at Falcon Lodge and staff who supported them knew and understood each other well. There was a well established staff team with good management which meant staff put the needs of people who lived at Falcon Lodge at the centre of the service.
People were safely cared for. There were sufficient numbers of appropriately recruited staff who understood how to keep the people they cared for safe.
People received effective care. Staff received appropriate training and respected people’s needs and wishes. Staff ensured people’s health care and nutritional needs were met.
The service was caring. Staff had a good understanding of what people wanted and needed and encouraged independence as much as possible. Family involvement was encouraged and the service worked well with relatives.
The service responded to people’s changing needs and there were good quality assurance processes in place to help to ensure they were continuing to meet the needs of the people they served.
This inspection was carried out on 30 April and 1 May 2015 and was unannounced.
Falcon Lodge provides accommodation and personal care for up to five people who have learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection four people were using the service.
Falcon Lodge has a registered manager in post. 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.
Staff had received safeguarding training. They told us they understood how to recognise the signs of abuse and knew how to report their concerns if they had any. There was a safeguarding policy in place and relevant telephone numbers were displayed in the registered manager’s office. Relatives told us their family member felt safe and people behaved in a way which indicated they felt safe.
Risks had been appropriately identified and addressed in relation to people’s specific needs. Staff were aware of people’s individual risk assessments and knew how to mitigate the risks.
Medication was stored safely and administered by staff who had been trained to do so. There were procedures in place to ensure the safe handling and administration of medication.
People were asked for their consent before care or support was provided and where people did not have the capacity to consent, the provider acted in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. This meant that people’s mental capacity was assessed and decisions were made in their best interest involving relevant people. The registered manager was aware of his responsibilities under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and had made appropriate applications for people using the service.
Relatives told us they were very happy. Staff understood people’s preferences and knew how to interact and communicate with them. People behaved in a way which showed they felt supported and happy. People were supported to choose their meals. Snacks and drinks were available in between meals. People were given dietary supplements when needed. Staff were kind and caring and respected people’s dignity.
Support plans were detailed and included a range of documents covering every aspect of a person’s care and support. The support plans were used to ensure that people received care and support in line with their needs and wishes. We saw this reflected in the support observed during the visit.
There was evidence in support plans that the home had responded to health needs and this had led to positive outcomes for people.
The registered manager was liked and respected by people, staff and relatives. There was good morale amongst staff who worked as a team in an open and transparent culture. Staff felt respected and listened to by the registered manager. Regular staff meetings meant that staff were involved in the development of future plans. There was a positive and caring atmosphere in the home and effective and responsive planning and delivery of care and support.