Paddock Lodge Care Home

Updated 19 August 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 2 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

Paddock Lodge Care Home 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. Paddock Lodge Care Home 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 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 not a registered manager in post. The provider had recently appointed a manager who confirmed they would be applying to register as the manager of Paddock Lodge Care Home.

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. We sought feedback from the local authority and 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

We spent time in communal areas observing the care and support provided by staff. We spoke with 4 people who used the service, 3 relatives and 8 members of staff including care workers, team leaders, manager, area manager and nominated individual. 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 6 people's care records and medicine records. We reviewed 3 staff recruitment files and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 19 August 2023

About the service

Paddock Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 24 people, some of whom were living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 20 people using the service.

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

Most aspects of people's medicines were well managed although some shortfalls were identified and addressed promptly by the provider. Risks associated with people’s care were usually managed safely and systems were in place for learning lessons when things go wrong. Regular checks of the premises and equipment were carried out although we saw actions to address some potential risks had not been addressed promptly. Robust recruitment checks were carried out by the management team. 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 did not always support this practice. The provider adapted staffing levels to people’s changing needs. The service followed safe infection, prevention and control procedures. The service had systems in place to safeguard people from abuse.

Care was usually planned and delivered in a person-centred way. The service had an activity programme although this was limited. People told us this was an area to improve. The management team said they would review their approach to activities. Relatives told us they felt listened to and could raise concerns and complaints.

The provider had introduced a more robust system to identify and manage risks to the quality of the service. People told us the management team and staff were engaging, kind and caring. Several people commented positively about the manager who had recently commenced in post. Our observations reflected people’s feedback and we saw staff were attentive and responsive to people’s needs. Staff felt well supported and were proud to work at Paddock Lodge Care Home. The service worked effectively with other professionals.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 31 March 2022) and there were 2 breaches of regulation relating to management of risks to people and governance arrangements. 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 improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe, responsive and well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last comprehensive inspection carried out on 26 November 2019 to calculate the overall rating. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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.

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

Recommendations

We have made 2 recommendations about the management of some medicines.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.