Carlin Lodge

Updated 14 December 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.

Service and service type

Carlin Lodge is care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal and/or nursing care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Carlin Lodge is a residential care home that provides personal 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 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 there was no registered manager in post. We were informed by the provider, the manager at the service was in the process of applying to register with the CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection including information from the public. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 6 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided, in addition we spoke with 2 relatives. We also spoke with 4 members of staff including the manager and 3 care staff. In addition, we spoke with the nominated individual and 2 directors. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed 4 recruitment records and a variety of certificates and documentation relating to the management of the service.

Updated 14 December 2023

About the service

Carlin Lodge is registered to provide support and residential care for up to 17 people who may be living with dementia in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection 16 people were receiving care and support at the home.

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

Medicines were not always stored securely. Care documentation required improvement, and audits and checks had not identified the concerns we found on inspection. People were cared for in a clean and homely environment by staff who knew people’s needs and wishes.

People told us they felt safe, and they were supported by staff who helped them quickly if they needed this. Checks were completed to help ensure prospective staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people and staff had completed training to support their skills and knowledge. Staffing was arranged so people could be supported when they needed or requested support. Risk assessments relating to care were carried out to help minimise the risk of avoidable harm and staff knew the help and support people needed.

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 were consulted and asked their views on the service provided. People told us they were happy at the home and were confident any comments they made would be listened to. Staff told us they felt supported by the manager and senior management team and they were able to approach them if they needed support and guidance.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at the last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 02 October 2021) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found the provider remained in breach of regulations. The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last 2 consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the safe management of medicines, cleanliness, and culture. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe 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 remains requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

The provider responded swiftly to our concerns and took action to improve the service. This has minimised associated risks.

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

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to the safe management of medicines, care documentation and good governance.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.