South Africa Lodge

Updated 25 October 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 team comprised six inspectors and two Expert’s by Experiences. 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

South Africa Lodge is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. 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.

Inspection activity started on 21 September 2022 and ended on 30 September 2022. We visited the service on 21 and 27 September 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we had received about the service, including the previous inspection report and notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us. 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 four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with and received feedback from 17 relatives and seven health and social care professionals. We also spoke with 24 members of staff including the chief executive, the chief operating officer, who was also the nominated individual for the service, the general manager, the registered manager, two clinical managers, the service auditor, the chef, five nurses and 10 care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records, including seven people’s care records in detail, and specific areas of 12 other people’s records. Seven staff files were reviewed in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, training, staff rota’s, policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 25 October 2022

About the service

South Africa Lodge is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for people with complex needs, specialising in supporting people with a neurological condition. The service can support up to 99 people who live in one of six individual units or ‘lodges.’ There were 99 people at the home when we inspected.

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

People and relatives were happy with the care provided and spoke positively about the staff.

Although people received their medicine as prescribed, some records including medicine care plans and ‘as and when required’(PRN) medicine plans, lacked detail. Immediate action was taken by the management team to address this.

People's care plans and risk assessments contained consistent and detailed information in relation to people’s needs and how these should be managed. People’s health needs and wellbeing were monitored in line with the information highlighted in their care plans and risk assessments.

Environmental risks had been considered and acted on where required. Infection, prevention and control processes and up to date policies were in place. The provider, management and staff adhered to the latest government guidance in relation to infection, prevention and control.

Recruitment practices were effective and there were sufficient numbers of staff available to meet people's needs in a safe and unhurried way. People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse.

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 had received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely. They received regular supervision to help develop their skills and support them in their role.

People’s needs were met in a personalised way. Staff knew the people they supported well and had a good understanding of their needs. People were supported to partake in a range of activities centred around their individual interests.

The service worked in partnership with other agencies to aid joined up, person centred care.

Effective and robust quality assurance systems had been developed and implemented to continually assess, monitor and improve the quality of care people received.

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

Rating at last inspection

South Africa Lodge registered with us on 2 November 2020. In May 2021 we completed a focused inspection of the service looking at the safe, effective and well led domains only (published 24 May 2021). All these areas were rated good; however, the service could not be given an overall rated as the responsive and caring domains were not inspected.

The last overall rating for the service under the previous provider was good (published 28 December 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about people's care and support including falls risks, nutrition, neglect, lack of sufficient staffing and poor infection, prevention and control practices. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.

Follow up

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