Cedar Lodge

Updated 27 November 2019

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

This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Cedar Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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 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 prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent time with people to see how they were cared for. We spoke with two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, the provider’s nominated individual and a provider representative. We also spoke with a senior staff member and four care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. These included multiple medication records, two people’s care plans and information on interesting things people had enjoyed doing. We saw records relating to the management of the home. These included minutes of meeting with people living at the home and the staff caring for them and compliments received by staff about the care provided. In addition, we saw the systems in place to manage any concerns and complaints and to monitor any incidents or accidents which may occur. We also saw the systems the provider used to assure themselves people were receiving good care.

Updated 27 November 2019

About the service

Cedar Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to nine people who live with learning disabilities and autism. At the time of the inspection there were six people living at the home.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. The size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design and was separate from other buildings on the site, which provided a sense of space and privacy for the people living at the home.

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

People were supported by staff who understood people’s individual safety needs and who helped people to reduce their individual safety risks. Staff knew what action to take if they had any concerns for people’s well-being. People were assisted to have the medicines they needed to remain well and to live in a home where systems were in place to reduce the chance of infections.

Staff worked with people, their relatives and other health and social care professionals to ensure people’s needs were regularly assessed and people had access to the health care they needed. Staff used their skills and training when caring for people, and to ensure people were assisted to have enough to eat and drink. 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.

People liked the staff supporting them and staff spoke warmly about the people they cared for. Relatives told us staff knew their family members well. Staff used their knowledge of people’s unique needs and communication preferences to included people in choices about their lives. Staff treated people respectfully and understood people’s right to privacy.

People’s preferences and needs were reflected in the way their care was planned. Relatives’ and other health and care professionals’ views were considered when their family member’s care was planned and reviewed. Systems were in place to manage any complaints and to take learning from these. 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 enjoy new experiences and maintain their independence.

The registered manager planned to further develop plans to support people at the end of their life, and in the event of people’s sudden death, so people's preferences would be known, and responded to.

Relatives were positive about the way the home was managed and told us communication with staff was open. Staff felt supported to provide good care. The registered manager was supported by the provider to check the quality of the care provided and to drive through improvements to the care provided. This included continuing to develop new opportunities for people to try, so they would continue to enjoy their lives.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 27 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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