Background to this inspection
Updated
10 February 2024
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
This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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
Derby 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.
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke about Derby Lodge with 4 people, 5 relatives, 4 staff and 3 members of the management team. We walked around the building to carry out a visual check. We did this to ensure Derby Lodge was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live. We looked at records related to the management of the service. We checked care and medication records, staffing and recruitment files and quality and leadership oversight systems.
Updated
10 February 2024
About the service
Derby Lodge is a care home providing personal care for up to 23 people. At the time of our inspection there were 21 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.
Right Support:
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. The provider consistently maintained sufficient staffing levels to support people to take their time when being assisted. A staff member confirmed, "Yes, there’s enough staff on the shift, which means we can spend quality time with the residents." The registered manager trained their workforce to administer and manage people’s medicines safely.
Right Care:
People asserted they were supported to maintain their independence. A relative said, “It’s all accessible. They’ve even altered things in the lift for [my relative] to reach. They’re very good like that." Staff had a range of specialist training to ensure they could meet people’s specific needs, such as in learning disability and mental health conditions. The registered manager developed person-centred care plans with people and their relatives to maintain their independence, although this was not consistent and there were gaps in records.
We have made a recommendation about care planning and risk assessment.
Right Culture:
The provider engaged closely and transparently with the local authority as part of their lessons learnt process to improve people’s care. Staff told us they were fully consulted about different aspects of the home and worked as a team to enhance people’s lives. Staff interactions with people and their relatives were consistently kind and respectful, with appropriate use of positive language. A relative stated, “It’s a fantastic place – it’s the place.”
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 20 April 2022).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staff approach, medicines administration, risk management and staffing levels. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
The provider has taken effective action to mitigate the risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well-led sections of the report.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.