• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Copper Beeches Lodge

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

52 Truro Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 5JJ (01726) 74024

Provided and run by:
Mr SJ Tarrant & Mrs MJ Tarrant

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

All Inspections

11 November 2020

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Copper Beeches Lodge is a care home registered to personal care. At the time of our visit there were 13 people living in the home. The home provides accommodation for people who have a learning disability. Communal facilities include an accessible garden and craft room.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The registered manager was communicating with people, staff and family members regularly to make sure everyone had an understanding of procedures and precautions being taken, and how to keep people safe during the current outbreak. The registered manager worked with the care staff team to ensure infection prevention and control measures were followed.

The registered manager provided training to ensure staff knew how to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and the current outbreak in the service. The registered manager ensured people living in the service and staff had access to additional support, included one-to-one meetings and contact by phone, with any emotional support needed in response to the current outbreak.

The staff were following up to date infection prevention and control guidance to help people to stay safe. The registered manager ensured staff and people who used the service understood why every measure was in place.

The registered manager worked with the local GP and received training on caring for people with a Covid-19 positive diagnosis. This included staff receiving additional training on equipment to enable staff to respond quickly if people health deteriorated.

The registered manager had designed a notice to place on people’s bedroom door for those who were currently isolating. This showed the start and end date of people’s isolating time, alert staff to what PPE is to be worn before entering the room as well as additional checks staff needed to carry out to ensure of people’s wellbeing.

People at high risk and those isolating were supported by staff to occupy themselves. Staff provided activities whilst maintaining people’s safety. Most people currently with a positive result where isolating in their own personal areas. However due to the needs of some people they found it difficult to remain in one area. The registered manager had addressed this issue with people who preferred to spend their time in communal areas. They were supported to do this whilst maintaining physical distancing.

Staff helped people to stay in touch with family and friends through phone and video calls. The service was currently closed to all visitors.

12 September 2017

During a routine inspection

We carried out a comprehensive inspection of Copper Beeches Lodge on 12 September 2017. At the previous inspection the service was rated good.

Copper Beeches Lodge provides accommodation and personal care for up to thirteen people who have a learning disability. During this inspection thirteen people were living at the service.

The service is situated close to the centre of St Austell. Most people living at Copper Beeches Lodge were mobile but some required mobility aids to support them. Some people using the service were supported to use community facilities.

There were two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). On the day of the inspection one of those managers was on duty. The service had experienced staff recruitment issues prior to this inspection. This meant the registered managers were supporting staff members in the delivery of care to people. This had affected some of the management systems including training of new staff members. The service was fully staffed at this inspection and the registered managers had put training dates in place so staff would receive the necessary support to carry out their roles effectively. We have made a recommendation about this issue.

The service was clean, spacious and generally suitable for the people who used the service. However one window did not have a restrictor in place. This was being acted upon once the registered manager was informed. There was limited access to the garden area where people who required mobility aids due to uneven paths. Other health and safety checks had been carried out by the registered managers.

People's safety and well-being had been assessed by the registered manager and risk assessments were in place to minimise any risks and keep them safe. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care and support people required. Visiting professionals told us the service was very responsive to any changes. They said, “If staff have any doubts or concerns they let us know so we can respond to the changes.”

Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and acted upon if required. The registered managers understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Appropriate arrangements were in place for the administration and storage of medicines.

There had been problems in recruiting staff during the early part of the year. This had led to registered managers supporting staff on duty. Recent recruitment had increased staffing levels. There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service. The registered managers had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff.

People had their healthcare needs met and there were examples of how people's health needs had been effectively responded to. People were treated with dignity and respect and independence was promoted wherever possible.

The registered provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and was following the requirements in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people's nutritional needs. Care records contained evidence of visits to and from external health care specialists.

People were able to do things they enjoyed and keep in touch with those people who were important to them.

People and relatives knew how to raise any complaints they had and were confident staff would take action if this happened.

Checks were undertaken on the quality of the care by the registered manager through regular communication and by seeking the views of people using the service and their relatives.

To Be Confirmed

During a routine inspection

We inspected Copper Beeches Lodge on 25 August 2015. This was an announced inspection. We told the provider two days before our inspection visit that we would be coming. This was because we wanted to make sure people would be at home to speak with us. The service was last inspected in November 2013. During that inspection visit we found the service was meeting regulations.

Copper Beeches Lodge provides care and accommodation for up to thirteen people who have a learning disability. Twelve people were living at the service during this inspection visit.

The service is situated in the centre of St Austell with local transport available close by. The service also has a car and mini bus to support people to attend community facilities and events. The service is an extended two storey house. There is a large front garden area which is currently being developed to include improved access for people with mobility needs.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. The staff at the service took time to speak with the people they were supporting. We saw many positive interactions and people enjoyed talking with staff on duty. Comments included; “I just love working here. It’s different every day” and, “We work well as a team and support each other. Service Users are encouraged to live as independently as they can. You could see that this morning in the kitchen”.

Staff were competent in how they were providing support to people. They were very familiar with what support and care people needed. Staff supported people to make meaningful decisions about their lives and respected people’s decisions and wishes. People were supported to lead full and varied lives and staff supported them to engage in a wide variety of activities. Comments included, “We get out as much as we can. It’s good that we have the transport available to us” and, “I know the boundaries of [the person] capabilities and look out for times when they might be getting stressed or upset and I know how to manage that”.

People had a choice of meals, snacks and drinks, which they told us they enjoyed. People had been included in planning menus and their feedback about the meals in the service had been listened to and acted on. One person was actively involved in preparing soup for lunch. People and staff dined together in the dining area. The dining experience was seen to be a social experience with people sharing conversation between themselves and staff. Comments included; “We [staff] make mealtimes as social and relaxed as possible. It’s always a busy time” and, “Meals are inclusive and people like to have conversations about the day, what they have done or what they are planning”.

The service was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People had individual support plans, detailing the support they needed and how they wanted this to be provided. Pictorial plans supported people with learning disabilities to understand what care and support they received. Records showed relatives were involved in the care planning and review process wherever possible. A professional who visited the service told us, “Staff make sure everybody is involved in planning care and they have the skills to communicate with people here”.

Copper Beeches Lodge was well-led. The service had an open and positive culture with a clear focus on enabling and supporting people to become more independent.

2 November 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service. We received some comments such as 'I like it here' and 'I'm happy here'. The majority of the conversations were general due to people's complex communication needs. Therefore we observed how people interacted with staff and saw they appeared to be satisfied with the care they received and approached staff freely without hesitation.

We observed staff interact with people who used the service in a kind and calm manner. We saw staff showed, through their actions, conversations and during discussions with us empathy and understanding towards the people they cared for. We saw that people's privacy and dignity was respected by the way that staff assisted people with their personal care.

We examined people's care records and found the majority of records were up to date. The registered manager agreed to ensure all care plans were up to date to reflect a person's current care needs so that care would then be provided by staff in a consistent manner.

We found that people who used the service were involved in making day to day decisions and participated in tasks at home, such as cleaning and doing their laundry. During the visit we noted that people attended a variety of activities so that they had opportunities to pursue their interests.

People were protected from abuse Legal safeguards, which protect people unable to make decisions about their own welfare, were understood by staff and used to protect people's rights.

People who used the service, staff and visitors were protected against the risks of unsafe or unsuitable premises.

Staff said there were sufficient staff on duty. People were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

People who used the service, their representatives, and staff were asked for their views about their care and treatment and they were acted upon.

23 February 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service, a visitor to the home, staff, the manager and the provider. We observed the staff talking with people who used the service and saw they were respectful, friendly and supportive to them. The atmosphere in the home was warm and welcoming. We saw people were comfortable with each other and with staff at Copper Beeches Lodge.

Care records showed people made decisions for themselves and we found people's privacy, dignity and independence were respected and people's views and experiences were taken into account in the way the service was provided and delivered in relation to their care. We saw people's wishes were respected. We observed people moving around the home without restriction.

Care plans and associated documentation provided sufficient detail to direct and guide staff of the action they needed to take in order to meet people's assessed care needs. People's records were personalised and provided clear information about the person's wishes and abilities.

Medicines were stored and administered safely and appropriately.

People were protected from abuse and staff were trained and supported to carry out their roles.

20 January 2012

During a routine inspection

The people using this service told us they liked living in the home. They told us 'I'll give the staff 20 out of 20', 'there's always lots to do', and 'staff are great'. They also told us that they had choices in how they spent their day, in the furnishings of their room, they are involved in menu planning and food shopping and the activities that they participate in. From our conversations none of the people who use the service could identify any areas for improvement.

People who use the service met us and made us tea and were keen to show us their rooms. They told us about how they spent their time, from attending work placements, day placements, college, church, choir, sport facilities as well as enjoying activities within Copper Beeches Lodge. People also told us that they were involved in household tasks, such as doing their own personal laundry, cleaning their rooms and helping with food preparation. No one we spoke with could think of any improvements needed to the care or support that they receive at Copper Beeches Lodge.