Sutton Hall and Lodge

Updated 2 July 2022

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 undertaken by an inspector, a nurse specialist professional advisor 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

Sutton Hall and Lodge 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. Sutton Hall and Lodge is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 professionals who work with the service. 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 spoke with seven people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the provider, registered manager, deputy manager, clinical lead, chef, nurse, senior carers, carers, domestic staff and an administrator.

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.

Updated 2 July 2022

About the service

Sutton Hall and Lodge is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 60 people. The service provides support to adults under the age of 65, adults over the age of 65, people living with dementia and people living with a sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 43 people using the service.

Sutton Hall and Lodge accommodates 60 people in one adapted building over two floors. There are four separate wings to support people living with dementia and people who require nursing care.

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

Improvements were needed regarding the upkeep of the building. There were incomplete or missing risk assessments and not all staff were following the guidance on infection prevention and control. We found people at risk of weight loss did not always have access to fortified food and there were delays in seeking appropriate treatment.

Safety checks were completed to make sure the building was safe. Staff had been recruited safely and medication was administered safely. When an adverse incident occurred, lessons were learnt to minimise the risk of this recurring.

People were supported to have choice and control over their lives. Staff had the skills and knowledge to provide safe care. Where health and social care professionals were already involved, staff worked well with these partners.

Staff were kind, caring and treated people with dignity and respect. Staff had the right ethos and passion to make sure people received high quality care.

People’s wishes, preferences and choices were recorded in care plans. Information was available to people in a wide range of accessible formats. There were a variety of one to one and group activities available. The registered manager responded appropriately to complaints. Staff had a good understanding of end of life care.

The registered manager had a good oversight of the practice and areas for improvement within the service. All of the areas for improvement identified on the inspection had already been identified by the registered manager’s audits. In most cases, measures were being put in place. For example, to improve the maintenance of the building and rewrite all care plans to ensure consistency in the quality of the information.

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.

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 the service under the previous provider was good (published on 2 August 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection.

We have identified breaches in relation to the management of infection prevention, the maintenance of the building and incomplete or missing risk assessments at this inspection.

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

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.