Background to this inspection
Updated
17 April 2020
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
The inspection team consisted of one 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
Fradel Lodge provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission who was also the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service. This means that they are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. There was also a manager at the service who was about to start the process of becoming registered.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the manager or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed the information we had received about 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 of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, the supported housing manager, the social affairs manager, the human resources manager, the service co-ordinator and two care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records including risk assessments. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service including health and safety checks and quality assurance were reviewed.
After the inspection
The supported housing manager sent us documentation we requested including training data.
Updated
17 April 2020
About the service
Fradel Lodge is an extra care housing scheme. There were 16 people receiving a personal care service living in ordinary flats in one scheme. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service
People were protected from the risks of harm and abuse. Staff were knowledgeable about the actions to take if they suspected somebody was being harmed or abused. People had risk assessments to minimise the risks of harm or abuse they may face. Staff were recruited safely and there were sufficient staff on duty to meet people’s needs. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection. Medicines were managed safely.
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’s care needs were assessed before they began to use the service. Staff were supported to carry out their role with training, supervision and appraisals. People were supported with their nutrition, hydration and health. Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
People thought staff and the management were caring. Staff knew people well and understood how to deliver a fair and equal service. People and relatives were included in the decision making around the care provided to them. People confirmed staff understood how to promote their privacy, dignity and independence.
Staff knew how to provide a personalised care service and were knowledgeable about people’s individual care needs. People’s communication needs were met. People were encouraged to participate in activities including their religion and maintaining family contact. Complaints were dealt with appropriately. People who were at the end of their life had their last wishes documented.
People and staff spoke positively about the leadership in the service. The provider held regular meetings for people using the service and staff. The provider had a system of checking the quality of the service provided to identify areas for improvement. The provider worked in partnership with other agencies to improve outcomes for people.
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 13 September 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.