Cedarwood Lodge (Active Prospects)

Updated 5 March 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 was carried out on the 29 January 2018. The inspection was unannounced and carried out by one inspector. We looked at records, including two people’s care records, staff recruitment and training records and records relating to the management of the service. We spoke with two people who used the service, a relative, two members of staff, the home manager, the director of care and a visiting hairdresser. Not all of the people using the service were able to communicate their views to us verbally. We undertook general observations throughout our visit and 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.

Before the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service including notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also contacted the local authority responsible for commissioning the service to obtain their views and used this to help inform our inspection planning.

Updated 5 March 2018

Cedarwood Lodge is a residential care home that provides accommodation and care for up to 5 people with learning and physical disabilities. At the time of the inspection the home was providing care and support to five people.

At our last inspection of this service on 20 October 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good. The home demonstrated they continued to meet the regulations and fundamental standards.

The home did not have a registered manager in post. The previous registered manager left employment in October 2017. The current manager had managed the home for three months. They were knowledgeable about the requirements of a registered manager and their responsibilities with regard to the Health and Social Care Act 2014. At the time of this inspection they were in the process of applying to the CQC to become the registered manager for the home.

There were safeguarding procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures. We observed a good staff presence and staff told us there was always enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs. Appropriate recruitment checks were carried out before staff started working at the home. Action was taken to assess any risks to people using the service. People were receiving their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.

People’s needs were assessed and care files included detailed information and guidance for staff about how their needs should be met. Staff had the knowledge and skills required to meet people needs. The provider had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and acted according to this legislation. People’s care plans included assessments of their dietary needs and preferences. People were encouraged to eat healthy meals and cook for themselves. Staff monitored people’s mental and physical health and where there were concerns people were referred to appropriate health professionals.

Not all of the people using the service were able to communicate verbally, however people’s care records included communication profiles that recorded their specific methods of communicating with staff. Care plans included a section that referred to their lifestyles and cultural needs. Care records were also person centred and included people’s views about how they wished to be supported. The home had a complaints procedure in place. This was available in a format that most people could understand.

The provider recognised the importance of regularly monitoring the quality of the service they provided to people. They took into account of people’s views of the service through surveys and meetings. Staff said they enjoyed working at the home and they received good support from the manager.