Stanway Green Lodge

Updated 23 June 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 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.

The inspection took place on 09 April 2018. It was undertaken by one inspector 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.

Prior to our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including previous inspection reports. We contacted the local authority to obtain their views about the care provided. We considered the information which had been shared with us by the local authority and other people, looked at safeguarding notifications which had been submitted. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form in which we ask the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During our inspection we observed how the staff interacted with people and we spent time observing the support and care provided to help us understand their experiences of living in the service. We observed care and support in the communal areas, the midday meal, and we looked around the service. Some people were able to talk with us about the service they received but others could not. We 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.

We reviewed the records at the service. These included four staff files which contained staff recruitment, training and supervision records. Also, medicine records, complaints, accidents and incidents, quality audits and policies and procedures along with information in regard to the upkeep of the premises.

We looked at four people's care documentation along with other relevant records to support our findings. We also 'pathway tracked' people living at the service. This is when we looked at their care documentation in depth and obtained information about their care and treatment at the service. It is an important part of our inspection, as it allowed us to capture information about a sample of people receiving care.

During the inspection we spoke with 12 people, five relatives, four staff, the deputy manager, the manager and the provider. The inspection team also spent time sitting and observing people in areas throughout the service and were able to see the interaction between people and staff. This helped us understand the experience of people who did not wish to or could not talk with us.

Updated 23 June 2018

Stanway Green Lodge is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and personal care as a single package under a contractual agreement with the local authority, health authority or the individual, if privately funded. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Stanway Green Lodge accommodates a maximum of 30 older people, including people who live with dementia or a dementia related condition, in one purpose built residential style building. Stanway Green Lodge is a large detached building situated in a quiet residential area of Colchester and is close to all amenities. The premises are set out on two floors with each person using the service having their own individual bedroom and adequate communal facilities are available for people to make use of within the service. At the time of our inspection 27 people were using the service.

At our last inspection of this service on 09 September 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 continued to be protected against the risk of abuse. We observed that people were safe in their environment. Staff had received training about recognising the signs of abuse or neglect and knew what to look out for. Both the registered manager and staff understood their role and responsibilities to report any concerns and were confident in doing so.

The service had maintained risk assessments to identify and reduce risks that may be involved when meeting people's needs such as inability to verbally communicate, which could lead to behaviour that challenges and details of how the risks could be reduced. This enabled the staff to take immediate action to minimise or prevent harm to people.

There were still sufficient numbers of staff to meet people's needs. Staff were recruited using procedures designed to protect people from unsuitable staff. Staff were trained to meet people's needs and they discussed their performance during one to one meetings and annual appraisal so they were supported to carry out their roles.

Staff were consistently supported by the registered manager and deputy manager and felt able to raise any concerns they had or suggestions to improve the service to people. Staff had the knowledge and skills to meet people's needs, and attended regular training courses. The staff followed policies about Equality, Diversity and Human Rights and continued to receive training about this.

The systems for the management of medicines were followed by staff and we found that people received their medicines safely. People had good access to health and social care professionals when required.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. The registered manager understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty safeguards and the home complied with these requirements.

People's care plans contained information about their personal preferences and focussed on individual needs. People and those closest to them were involved in regular reviews to ensure the support provided continued to meet their needs.

People were involved in assessment and care planning processes. Their support needs, likes and lifestyle preferences had been carefully considered and were reflected within the care and support plans available.

People were always motivated, encouraged and supported to be actively engaged in activities inside and outside of the home. People went out to their local community for activities. Staff encouraged people to undertake activities and supported them to become more independent. Staff spent time engaging people in conversations, and spoke to them politely and respectfully.

Staff meetings took place on a regular basis. Minutes were taken and any actions required were recorded and acted on. People's feedback was sought and used to improve the care in the service.

People knew how to make a complaint and complaints were managed in accordance with the provider's complaints policy.

The registered manager continued to measure the quality of people's experiences and work at putting people at the heart of the service. They asked relatives, staff and external health and social care professionals for their views about the service.

The registered manager and provider regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care to ensure standards were met and maintained. They also understood the requirements of their registration with the Commission.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.