Background to this inspection
Updated
10 March 2020
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by a single inspector.
Service and service type
Melba Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
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 contacted the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams for their views about the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the four people using the service to gain their views. We spoke with a care worker, the registered manager and a deputy manager
We looked at two people’s care records, two staff records and records related to the running of the service such as fire safety records, audits and meeting minutes.
After the inspection
We spoke with one relative by telephone following the inspection and tried to contact other relatives of people using the service to ask for their views. We also contacted four health care professionals for feedback about the service. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
10 March 2020
About the service
Melba Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care, registered to support up to four people with mental health needs and/or learning disabilities or autism. There were four people using the service at the time of the inspection.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service
Some improvement was needed to the management of medicines and to ensure quality assurance systems were effective in identifying areas for improvements. We have made a recommendation that the provider considers best practice guidance on managing medicines and about the use of nationally recognised tools when assessing people’s needs.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. For example, in the way it assessed people's needs and worked with people to identify individual goals that increased their confidence and independence.
People told us they felt safe living at the home. Staff understood the provider’s safeguarding and whistle blowing procedures, should they need to use them. Risks to people were assessed and risk management plans in place. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and safe recruitment practices were followed.
Staff knew how to report and record the details of any accidents or incidents which occurred at the home. The registered manager reviewed accident and incidents for learning and to reduce the risk of repeat occurrence.
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.
Staff received sufficient training and support to meet people’s needs. People were supported to maintain a balanced diet. Staff worked closely with a range of health professionals and ensure people had access to a range of healthcare services when needed.
People told us staff treated them with dignity and respected their privacy. Staff treated people with kindness and consideration. People were involved in making decisions about the support they received.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People had personalised care plans that reflected their care needs. They were encouraged to take part in activities within the community and to be as independent as possible. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people told us they knew how to complain and were confident that any issues they raised would be addressed to their satisfaction
The registered manager worked with staff to create an open and person-centred culture at the home. They worked in partnership with health and social care professionals to plan and deliver an effective service.
There were some systems to monitor the quality of the service. The registered manager sought people’s views on the service through regular meetings and an annual survey. They sought to make improvements based on feedback..
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 this service was good (published 26 July 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.