12 November 2014
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 12 November 2014 and was unannounced.
Loveys Lodge is a care home for up to four people with a learning disability. There were three people living at the home at the time of our inspection who had lived together for 18 years. They were supported by a small number of staff, some of whom had worked at the home for a significant number of years.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection of Loveys Lodge on 3 June 2014, we asked the provider to take action to make improvements to ensure people living in the home were safeguarded financially, and this action had been completed.
Everyone living at Loveys Lodge had complex needs, which meant they were not all able to talk to us about their experiences using words. We learnt from speaking with staff and looking at records that people were very dependent on staff to support them in all areas of their lives.
We found that staff had been trained to recognise signs of potential abuse and they demonstrated a good understanding of the potential risks faced by people living in the home.
Risk assessments were in place to manage identifiable risks in a way that did not restrict people’s freedom, choice and control more than necessary. Positive and effective strategies were observed in the way that staff managed behaviours that were potentially challenging.
There were sufficient numbers of staff who had the right skills and knowledge to carry out their roles and responsibilities. It was clear the staff understood people’s needs well and how to meet these.
Systems were in place to ensure people received their medication when they needed it and in a safe way.
We found that the service worked to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 key principles, which state that a person's capacity should always be assumed, and that assessments of capacity must be undertaken where it is believed that a person cannot make decisions about their care and support.
People were supported to have sufficient quantities of food and drink and there was an emphasis on maintaining a balanced diet.
Arrangements were in place to support people to maintain good health and to have access to external healthcare services and professionals, as required.
Staff were observed providing care and support in a caring and meaningful way, and people were treated with kindness and compassion. People also had regular opportunities to engage in activities within the local community.
We saw that people’s dignity was respected at all times and they were encouraged to maintain their independence as far as possible.
A complaints procedure had been developed to let people know how to raise concerns about the service if they needed to. The registered manager told us that no one had raised any concerns or made a complaint about the service in the last 12 months.
The registered manager encouraged open communication amongst the staff team. It was clear that she had a good working knowledge of the needs of the people living and working at the home, and that she provided appropriate support where required.
Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided including satisfaction surveys, meetings and internal audits. We saw that relatives of people living in the home had provided positive feedback in terms of staff knowledge and approachability, feeling listened to and involved, opportunities for people to make their own choices, privacy and dignity for people and external activities.