Stewart Lodge Care Home

Updated 27 January 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Stewart Lodge Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Stewart Lodge Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on the first day. As the registered manager was unavailable on that day, we went back again on 3 January 2023 to complete the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people using the service and asked them for their feedback about the service and the care and support they received. We also observed interactions between people and staff to understand people’s experiences. We spoke with the registered manager and two care support workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records, medicines administration records (MARs), two staff recruitment files, staff training and supervision information and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 27 January 2023

About the service

Stewart Lodge Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 3 people in one adapted building. The service provides support to people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were 3 people using the service.

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

People were safe at the service. Staff understood how to safeguard people from abuse and keep them safe from identified risks to their safety and wellbeing. There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. The provider carried out recruitment and criminal records checks to make sure staff were suitable to support people. The provider made sure health and safety checks were carried out of the premises and equipment to make sure they were safe. The premises was clean and hygienic. Staff followed infection control and hygiene practice to reduce the risk of infections.

People were involved in planning and making decisions about their care and support and could state their preferences for how this was provided. Staff were provided with relevant training to help them meet people’s care and support needs. Staff knew people well and understood how their needs should be met in line with their preferences. The provider checked with people at regular intervals that the care and support they received was continuing to meet their needs and sought their views about how the service could be continuously improved.

People were treated well at the service. People’s feedback indicated staff delivered good quality support. Staff were supported through supervision to continuously learn and improve in their role. Staff enjoyed their work and supporting people using the service. They were encouraged to put people’s needs and wishes at the heart of everything they did.

Staff supported people in a dignified way which maintained people’s privacy and independence. 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 supported people to manage their healthcare and medical conditions and made sure people could access support from healthcare professionals when needed. Staff encouraged people to eat and drink enough to meet their needs. People were supported to take their prescribed medicines in a timely and appropriate way. Medicines were managed safely.

People undertook activities that reflected their interests and preferences. Relatives and friends were free to visit people without any unnecessary restrictions. The service had been designed and decorated to meet people’s needs and people had a choice of comfortable spaces to spend time in.

The registered manager was experienced and had a clear understanding of how people’s needs should be met. They undertook audits and checks to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of the service. There were systems in place to investigate accidents, incidents and complaints and people to be involved and informed of the outcome. The provider worked proactively with healthcare professionals involved in people’s care and acted on their recommendations to deliver care and support that met people’s needs.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Good (published 25 June 2019).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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, which will help inform when we next inspect.