The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Devon Lodge

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

23a Grange Road, Hedge End, Southampton, Hampshire, SO30 2FL (01489) 772820

Provided and run by:
Cambian Autism Services Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

11 and 12 November 2015

During a routine inspection

This was an unannounced inspection and took place on the 11 and 12 November 2015. The inspection was planned in response to some concerns that had been shared with the Care Quality Commission.

The service provides care and support for up to 12 people who may have a learning disability, a mental health condition or physical disabilities. Some people using the service displayed behaviours that were challenging to others and required interventions from staff to keep them and others safe. Some people could not speak with us due to their difficulty in communicating effectively.

There is a registered manager at Devon Lodge. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

Record showed the provider monitored incidents where behaviours challenged and responded promptly by informing the local authority safeguarding team, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), behavioural support team and advocacy agencies.

Staff were knowledgeable about the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and worked with advocacy agencies, healthcare professionals and family members to ensure decisions made in people’s best interests were reached and documented appropriately

People were not unlawfully deprived of their liberty without authorisation from the local authority. Staff were knowledgeable about the deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) in place for people and accurately described the content detailed in people’s authorisations.

People were protected from possible harm. Staff were able to identify the different signs of abuse and were knowledgeable about the homes safeguarding processes and procedures. They consistently told us they would contact CQC and the local authority if they felt someone was at risk of abuse. Notifications sent to CQC and discussions with the local authority safeguarding team confirmed this.

Staff received training appropriate to people’s needs and were regularly monitored by a senior member of staff to ensure they delivered effective care. Where people displayed physical behaviours that challenged others, staff responded appropriately by using redirection techniques and only used physical interventions as a last resort. Records showed the provider monitored incidents where physical interventions were used and had informed the local authority, behavioural support teams and healthcare professionals when these types of techniques were used.

Staff interacted with people and showed respect when they delivered care. Relatives and healthcare professionals consistently told us staff engaged with people effectively and encouraged people to participate in activities. People’s records documented their hobbies, interests and described what they enjoyed doing in their spare time.

Records showed staff supported people regularly to attend various health related appointments. Examples of these included visits to see the GP, hospital appointments and assessments with other organisations such as the community mental health team.

People received support that met their needs because staff regularly involved them in reviewing their care plans. Records showed reviews took place on a regular basis or when someone’s needs changed.

The service had an open culture where people told us they were encouraged to discuss what was important to them. We consistently observed positive interaction between staff and people.

3 September 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We previously inspected Devon Lodge on 26, 27 November 2013 and 2 December 2013. We found the provider did not have suitable arrangements in place to access staff personnel records. The provider was not able to demonstrate all training support staff had undertaken. We judged the service was not compliant and told them they required improvements.

After the inspection the provider sent us an action plan outlining the steps they were going to take to achieve compliance.

At this inspection we were able to access staff personnel files. We found training records in files showing courses support staff had attended and on-going training that was scheduled. The provider was judged compliant.

26, 27 November and 2 December 2013

During a routine inspection

We discussed the service with ten staff, the manager and the assistant psychologist. We met eleven of the twelve people who used the service. Due to people's varying individual communication skills we were only able to speak about experiences of the service with two people. However we also obtained views from two relatives. All people and relatives spoken with were positive about the service provided. One person told us they were able to do things they liked doing and that it was 'very good" at Devon Lodge. Another person told us staff gave them the help they wanted and were happy about changes planned for them. Relatives told us staff knew their family member's needs which were regularly reviewed and met.

Systems were in place to monitor and assess people's needs. Work on communication was taking place to increase people's involvement in planning and day-to-day decision-making to ensure the delivery of the service took their wishes into account.

People who use the service were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. This included training staff to work to minimise the risk of people having challenging behaviours and to use assessed responses, including physical interventions, when necessary.

People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard. Staff were encouraged to take part in training and review their care practices to meet people's needs. Records were mostly in place and up to date. However records of recruitment were not held in the home

30 January 2013

During a routine inspection

We found that the majority of young people who lived in this service relied on non verbal communication due to their autism and learning disabilities. We observed their interactions with staff during a range of activities and found staff were caring and supportive. Staff showed knowledge of the young people's preferences and used various communication aids and approaches tailored to meet their individual needs. One person told us they had enjoyed going out that morning with staff and were pleased with their purchases. We found detailed systems in place to establish what people liked to do. They were helped by key workers who planed their care in liaison with professionals and parents. A regular review system was in place and people were able to take part in a range of activities offered in and out of the home. There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet the young people's needs flexibly taking their needs into account.

Young people who use the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. This included provision of staff training to support people using physical interventions when necessary by reviewing practices regularly. The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service that young people received and took action if areas for improvement were identified.