Forest Lodge Rest Home

Updated 27 September 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

The inspection team consisted on one inspector

Service and service type

Forest 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 used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including two registered managers, the senior care worker and three care staff and an activity support person.

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

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and other supporting quality and maintenance information. We spoke with one health care professional who regularly visited the service and contacted two relatives by telephone.

Updated 27 September 2019

About the service

Forest Lodge Rest Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 27 people aged 65 and over and some people are living with mental health conditions. The service can support up to 28 people.

The accommodation is a large house set in its own grounds next to the local park. There are two floors accessed by stairs or a lift. The upper floor has bedrooms, toileting and bathing facilities. The downstairs provides two communal lounges, a dining area and a conservatory used as a smoking room. There was an outside space to the front of the home which was secure and available for people to use.

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

The provider had completed audits in relation to the service, however these were not always a true representation of the situation and therefore improvements had not always been identified. There was not always staff available to be responsive to people’s needs and some people were unable to request assistance when required. We have made a recommendation the provider empowers people to make choices and encourages them to maintain hobbies and interests.

Staff had received a range of training. In relation to keeping people safe from harm this was understood and the staff knew what areas to report on. However, for some areas the training provided had not always been followed.

There were staff available within the home, however these were not always responsive to people’s needs. The required checks had been completed to ensure staff were safe to work with people. Medicine was managed safely. People’s risks had been assessed and further work was being developed in this area to ensure long term conditions had been reflected.

People could choose their meal and provision was made for people’s dietary or cultural needs. Some people had the facilities within their room to store food and make light snacks of their choice. 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.

Religious needs and cultural respect were embedded within the service. Staff who were able to communicate with people in their chosen language. Other people were supported with different communication methods, for example picture cards or the use of technology.

Staff had established relationships with people. Families were made welcome when they visited, and any relevant information was shared. People’s information was stored securely, and their privacy was respected.

There was a complaints policy which had been followed when any concerns had been raised. People’s views had been considered and suggestions used to develop some aspects of the environment.

Areas of the home were being refurbished and people had been included in the decision making of the colour schemes. The provider aimed to work with a range of partners to drive improvements or reflect the needs of the individual.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

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 March 2017)

At this inspection we found areas required improvement and some areas where the provider had breached the regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.