Park Lodge

Updated 11 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 13 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 11 February 2022

Park Lodge provides accommodation and support for up to 16 people who have mental health and emotional needs in a supported living setting. This service supports people so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. Park Lodge provides a mixture of 11 self-contained flatlets and rooms with shared kitchen facilities in the main house and five garden self-contained flatlets. All accommodation has en-suite facilities.

Not everyone using Park Lodge received the regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care. Personal care includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection three people were receiving personal care, but this level of care fluctuated for people.

This inspection took place on 10 and 14 August 2018, a further meeting was held with the acting manager on the 17 August 2018. It was an announced visit, which meant the service was given 48 hours notice, to ensure staff were available to facilitate the inspection.

At our last inspection in June 2017 the service received an overall rating of 'Requires Improvement’. This was because the quality assurance system was not effective in terms of identifying areas where improvements were needed; such as updating the support plans and staff training and, processes to monitor the support provided. Staff training appropriate for staff supporting people with decisions within a supported living setting had not been provided.

At this inspection improvements had been made and the service has been rated ‘Good’.

A registered manager had not been in place since February 2018. A registered manager from another service within the organisation was managing this service as an acting manager. 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.

The service was not always well-led. Quality monitoring systems had not been fully established to ensure effective quality monitoring systems had been established in all areas. For example, medicine audits were not completed and not all medicine records were complete.

People were safe and had the support they needed. As far as possible, people were protected from harm and abuse. Staff were trained in safeguarding and knew how to keep people safe from avoidable harm. There was enough staff to safely meet people's needs and staff had received appropriate training to support their role. Medicines were handled safely by staff who had been trained to do so. The provider had policies and procedures in place for the recruitment of new staff.

People's needs were effectively met because staff had been trained and supported to do so. Staff were supported well with induction, training, supervision and appraisal. People were encouraged to take control of their own lives and staff worked with them to promote their independence. People were encouraged to make decisions and choices for themselves. Staff had attended MCA and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) training and understood how this legislation was applied within a supported living service.

People's health and well-being needs were met. They were supported to have access to healthcare services when they needed them and maintain good mental and physical health. There was a complaints process in place and complaints were responded to appropriately.

Staff were caring and had developed positive relationships with people. They treated people with respect and ensured their privacy was protected. People were involved in the planning of their care and support. Staff knew people well and understood the importance of providing good person-centred care.

Staff and people said the management was good and approachable. Staff had regular meetings to discuss people's needs and any changes to the organisation or the way they worked. Staff could contribute to the meetings and make suggestions. People had regular house meetings where they could make decisions about how the service was run. Complaints made were resolved effectively. This demonstrated the acting manager and provider were working collaboratively to improve the service.