Court Lodge

Updated 13 December 2017

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 24 and 26 October 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors, a specialist advisor in the care of older people living with dementia and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this kind of service.

Before this inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also checked other information we held about the home including previous inspection reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We spoke with six people who used the service, seven relatives, and one visiting health professional. We also spoke with the manager, provider’s quality manager, provider’s operation manager, activities co-ordinator, chef, three nurses and seven care staff. We looked at a range of records which included the care records for seven people, medicines records and recruitment records for five care workers. We looked at a range of records in relation to the management of the service.

Following the inspection we also received feedback from four external healthcare professionals.

Updated 13 December 2017

The inspection took place on the 24 and 26 October 2017 and was unannounced. Court Lodge provides accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care for up to 43 older people. At the time of our inspection there were 38 people living at the home. Accommodation at the home is provided over two floors, which can be accessed using passenger lifts. There is a large garden and patio area’s which provide a secure private leisure area for people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in place. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe living at Court Lodge and risks to people were minimized through risk assessments. There were plans in place for foreseeable emergencies.

People and their families felt there were enough staff to meet people needs. The provider was actively recruiting to fill staff vacancies and agency staff had been used appropriately to ensure all planned shifts were covered.

Relevant recruitment checks were conducted before staff started working at Court Lodge to make sure they were of good character and had the necessary skills. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse.

People were supported to take their medicines safely from suitably trained staff. Medication administration records (MAR) confirmed people had received their medicines as prescribed.

People received varied meals including a choice of fresh food and drinks. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes and went out of their way to provide people with what they wanted.

Staff received regular support and one to one sessions or supervision to discuss areas of development. They completed a wide range of training and felt it supported them in their job role. New staff completed an induction programme before being permitted to work unsupervised.

Staff sought consent from people before providing care and support. The ability of people to make decisions was assessed in line with legal requirements to ensure their rights were protected and their liberty was not restricted unlawfully.

People are 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 place in the service supported this practice.

People were cared for with kindness, compassion and sensitivity. Care plans provided comprehensive information about how people wished to receive care and support. This helped ensure people received personalised care in a way that met their individual needs.

People were supported and encouraged to make choices and had access to a range of activities. Staff knew what was important to people and encouraged them to be as independent as possible.

A complaints procedure was in place. There were appropriate management arrangements in place. Regular audits of the service were carried out to assess and monitor the quality of the service.