Victoria Lodge

Updated 10 June 2022

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 two inspectors 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 type of care service.

Service and service type

Victoria Lodge 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. Victoria Lodge 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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. At the time of our inspection there was a registered managers in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 9 May 2022 and ended on 23 May 2022. We visited the location’s service on 9 May 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from Healthwatch, Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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

During the inspection we observed the care and support people received throughout the day. We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided and eight relatives of people who use the service. We spoke with two healthcare professionals who regularly visited the service. We spoke with nine members of staff including the nominated individual, the registered manager, senior care staff, care staff, the chef and laundry worker. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at nine staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 10 June 2022

About the service

Victoria Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 23 people. The service provides support to older people, most of whom were living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 17 people using the service.

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

People told us they felt safe and were comfortable to speak with staff or management if they had any concerns. Staff received safeguarding training and demonstrated their understanding on the prevention and reporting of abuse.

People received their medicines safely by staff who were trained and competent to administer them. Staff practiced good infection control to help protect people from the COVID-19 pandemic. Risks to people’s health and the environment were assessed and managed safely.

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 and their relatives were involved in the planning and reviews of their care. People were given choices and asked for their opinion of the service and support they received. One person told us, “I would not want to change anything. Food is good they asked my opinion on what I want.”

People were supported by staff who upheld their dignity and encouraged their independence. Staff supported people to remain in control of their lives. One staff member said, “We check if they can manage on their own, if they need help, we get consent and help them.”

People and their relatives gave positive feedback about the staff. One relative said, “There appears to be quite a lot of love there.” A person told us, “The girls and the boys here all very helpful I can't say I have a favourite they are as nice as each other.”

People, their relatives and staff told us they felt comfortable to make suggestions or complain and confirmed the management team would deal with any problems. Relatives told us staff and management kept them up to date. Comments included, “The best thing is that they keep in touch with me.” People and their relatives spoke positively about the running of the service. One person said, “My family live near, they come to visit as much as they can, it's really nice to see them. They are made very welcome by the staff and comment on how clean this place is.”

People were appropriately referred where professional advice was needed. Staff and the management team worked closely with them to improve people’s care, safety and well-being. One relative told us, “They have a good relationship with the surgery. They seem to always get a doctor or nurse to check [person] over. The falls team are coming out.” A visiting professional commented, “They do well, they are very responsive to the patients needs.”

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 12 February 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.

We received concerns in relation to safeguarding matters which had been raised. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, caring and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, caring and well-led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Victoria 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.