Crantock Lodge

Updated 20 May 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

One inspector undertook this inspection.

Service and service type

Crantock Lodge 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 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 announced. We notified the registered manager 24 hours before, due to the inspection being undertaken outside normal working hours. We needed to be sure essential staff would be available and there was full access to records.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from relatives, the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with ten people who used the service about their experience of the care provided and one visiting relative. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, care staff and cook.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

We received positive feedback via email from two staff members about their experience of Crantock lodge.

Updated 20 May 2022

About the service

Crantock Lodge provides accommodation with personal care for up to 20 adults. There were 15 people using the service at the time of our inspection. The accommodation is over two floors with a shared lounge and dining room on the ground floor. Access to the building was suitable for people with reduced mobility and wheelchairs. There was choice of access to the upper floor through stairs and passenger lift. There was a pleasant outdoor space which people could access and use safely.

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

People and relatives were positive about the care and support that they received. Comments included; “I feel safe here. Staff respond to call bells, even in the night. I am happy to be here” and “I’m here for another five weeks, it’s the best. I love it here. I am well looked after. I feel relaxed here.”

There were enough staff to meet people's needs and ensure their safety. People told us; “Staff come quickly when I call them” and “They are amazing.” Appropriate recruitment procedures ensured prospective staff were suitable to work in the home.

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.

People, and their relatives were involved in the development and review of their care plans which detailed their needs and preferences. Staff knew people's care needs well. People were supported to engage in activities.

People were involved in the development of the menus at the service and told us; “The food is good. “People were supported to eat a balanced diet and drink enough to keep hydrated.

Peoples medicines were managed safely. Staff responsible had the necessary skills to administer medicines. Oversight was in place to ensure medicines were managed safely.

There were processes in place to prevent and control infection at the service, through access to COVID-19 testing where necessary, additional cleaning and safe visiting precautions.

Staff told us that they had received the training they needed to meet people’s needs safely and effectively. The registered manager maintained oversight of training to ensure staff had the necessary training, knowledge and skills to provide consistent care.

Staff were supported in their roles through a plan of supervision. Staff told us they felt supported by senior staff and the registered manager.

Staff were proud to work at Crantock Lodge and had built positive relationships with the people they supported. One commented; “I think the shared values of the team are to treat everyone with the care and respect that we would expect if it were our own family members. We feel our home is a home from home and see the residents as an extended family.”

Staff felt supported by the management team. They told us; “They help on the floor with the residents when needed or when we are busy with other things. They come in on their days off to help if something is not quite right or someone is very poorly.” People and relatives were complimentary about the management of the service and told us “[Registered manager] is perfect and she keeps the home running well.”

The management team maintained oversight of complaints, accidents and incidents and safeguarding concerns. The management team engaged well with health and social care professionals. Systems to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the care provided were in place. They were effective in assessing quality and identifying and driving improvement. The service had clear and effective governance systems in place.

The environment was spacious and there was equipment available to support staff in providing safe care and support. Health and safety checks of the environment and equipment were in place.

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

This service was registered with us on 1 December 2020 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 16 November 2019.

Why we inspected

This was the first inspection since the provider registered with the commission.

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.