Warren Lodge Care Home

Updated 11 May 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 was carried out by 1 inspector and 2 Experts 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

Warren 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. Warren Lodge Care Home is a care home with 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 (CQC) 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 a new manager had been in post for 2 months and had applied to register. CQC are currently assessing this application.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as serious injuries. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 8 people who lived in the service and 16 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed multiple interactions between people and staff throughout the day. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the manager, clinical lead, area director, nurses, care staff and support staff. We reviewed a range of records including 6 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff recruitment files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed including health and safety checks, meeting notes and audits.

Updated 11 May 2023

About the service

Warren Lodge Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation with personal and / or nursing care to up to 64 people. The service provides care and support to older people, people with complex nursing needs and people living with dementia. The service is arranged across 2 levels with lift access. At the time of our inspection there were 61 people using the service.

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

People told us they felt safe and were happy living at Warren Lodge. One person said, “I am happy. I always have a good sleep and I go to the dining room.” A relative told us, “They keep [relative] safe and the staff are lovely.” Another relative said, “[Relative] is safe and they’re good at caring for them. The staff are nice to them, and they like it here. They are good at phoning me if there’s a problem.”

Warren Lodge followed safe and robust recruitment practices and there were enough staff deployed to provide safe care. People and relatives were complimentary about the staff and described them as kind, friendly, knowledgeable and respectful. One person said, “The carers are very good. If I need anything I just walk to the office.” Relatives told us their loved ones were treated with dignity and respect.

Risk assessments were up to date and people received care and support from staff who knew them well. Medicines were managed safely, and lessons were learned when things went wrong. There were effective infection control procedures in place and people and relatives told us rooms were always kept clean and tidy.

People were encouraged to join in with group activities where this was possible, and staff engaged regularly with people who were cared for in their rooms. Any concerns or complaints raised had been investigated and resolved.

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.

Effective quality assurance processes were in place to monitor the service and regular audits were undertaken. A new manager had been appointed since our last inspection and staff told us they found them approachable and supportive with an open-door policy. Relatives also spoke very positively about the new manager.

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 29 July 2021).

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.

The overall rating for the service remains good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Warren Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.