• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Windmill Lodge

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

2 Windmill Hill, London Road, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9JP (01763) 273935

Provided and run by:
Mrs M Alcock and Miss J Hubbard

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

All Inspections

3 March 2021

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Windmill Lodge provides accommodation and care for six men with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, five people were living at Windmill Lodge.

We found the following examples of good practice.

¿ The provider had divided the staff group into ‘teams’. This was so that if any staff member tested positive for COVID-19 their whole ‘Team’ would be stepped down until all clear.

¿ The service was engaged in the routine testing scheme, with all staff and people living at the service being tested regularly for COVID-19.

¿ The provider had developed policies and procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Management oversight and daily checks, alongside regular infection prevention and control audits were in place.

¿ At the time of our inspection, plans were in place to facilitate visits in accordance with government guidelines. However, the people living at Windmill Lodge did not historically have many visitors or contact with friends or relatives. The registered manager advised that, due to digital technology, some people were now experiencing more contact than previously.

25 October 2017

During a routine inspection

Windmill Lodge provides accommodation and care for six men with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection, five people were living at Windmill Lodge.

At the last inspection the service was rated good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

People told us they felt safe living at Windmill Lodge. Risks to people were identified, reviewed and managed appropriately. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and the registered manager reviewed staffing levels weekly. Safe recruitment practices were in place. There were suitable arrangements for the safe storage and management of people’s medicines.

Staff received appropriate training, support and development to carry out their role effectively. People’s nutritional and hydration needs were managed effectively. People were offered choices and their views about the care they received were sought. The service was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People were supported to have maximum choice and control over their lives. People who lived at Windmill Lodge had access to health care professionals and were supported to attend appointments.

People told us and we observed that they were treated with kindness by staff who respected their privacy and upheld their dignity. People had regular meetings and daily opportunities to feedback on how they were feeling. People were involved in decisions about the care and support they wanted. People discussed end of life care decisions with staff to ensure their decisions were documented.

People felt supported and received personalised care that met their individual needs. People were given appropriate support and encouragement to access meaningful activities and follow their individual interests. The registered manager`s vision and values about the service they provided were based on person centred care. People told us they knew how to complain and were supported daily to discuss any issues they may have had.

The registered manager promoted an open, transparent and inclusive culture within the service. People and staff were encouraged to have their say to improve the way the service operated. There were quality assurance systems in place and shortfalls identified were promptly acted on to improve the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

01 October 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 01 October 2015 and was unannounced. At our last inspection on 05 September 2014, the service was found to be meeting the required standards in the areas we looked at. Windmill Lodge provides accommodation and care for six people with learning disabilities.

There was a manager in post who had registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The CQC is required to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. DoLS are put in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves or others. At the time of the inspection we found that where people lacked capacity to make their own decisions, consent had been obtained in line with the MCA 2005. The manager had submitted DoLS applications to the local authority for people who needed these safeguards.

Staff received regular training and knew how to meet people’s individual needs. Any important changes in people’s needs were passed on to all staff when they started their shifts, so that they all knew the up to date information. There were regular meetings held for staff to share information about people’s well-being and changing needs.

The staff were knowledgeable about the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff also understood the importance of giving people as much choice and freedom as possible. The manager had made appropriate applications for DoLS in order to keep people safe. Staff gained consent from people whenever they could and where people lacked capacity we saw that arrangements were in place for staff to act in their best interests.

People enjoyed appropriate food and drink and staff had access to accurate and up to date information to help them meet people’s needs.

Staff were kind and people appreciated the positive relationships they had with staff. This was also true for relatives. People who used the service were complimentary about the staff providing the service. Choices were given to people at all times. People’s privacy and dignity were respected and all confidential information about them was held securely.

Care plans were personalised and included information about people’s history and interests. People’s individual needs were assessed and were specific to people. Staff were knowledgeable about how to manage people’s individual needs and assisted people to take part in appropriate daily activities.

The service was well led by a manager who promoted a fair and open culture. They encouraged staff to take responsibility and supported their professional development. The manager also had a support structure in place. There were regular supervisions to support staff.

5 September 2013

During a routine inspection

During our inspection on 5 September 2013, we spoke with the deputy manager, three members of staff and four people who lived at the service. The people we spoke with told us they were able to make choices about whether they wished to participate in activities. They all told us they enjoyed living at Windmill Lodge and were looking forward to their forth coming holiday.

We observed that people showed they were content living at this home and that they had good relationships with the staff. They showed that they felt safe, and were satisfied with the service being provided. There was laughter and friendly banter between staff and people living in the home during our inspection.

Care records we looked at were well written and had pictures to help people understand the care and support being provided.

Medication procedures and records were well managed and thorough checks carried out to prevent any errors.

Staffing levels were adequate to meet people's needs and the staff felt well supported and received appropriate training to ensure their skills and knowledge remained up to date and in line with best practice.

People were given the opportunity to raise any concerns they had about their care and support.

18 September 2012

During a routine inspection

People told us that they liked living at the home. They said that they choose what they would like to eat, when they get up and go to bed, where they go on holiday and what activities they undertake. One person, when asked, "Is there anywhere else that you go out" replied, "Lots of places." People said "I like it here." "This is a good home." and when asked "Do the staff listen to you", a person replied "Yes." People felt that they were well looked after by staff.

We observed that the way in which people were spoken to and written about by staff was respectful. In many instances people were supported with pictorial information to aid their understanding. We saw that each person had an individual plan of care in place supported by risk assessments. There were clear guidelines for staff about the management of challenging behaviour.

Safeguarding from abuse was explained to people using the service and they were encouraged to speak up about anything they were not happy about. They felt protected by staff. One person said, "If anything worries me I talk to the staff straight away."

Staff were well trained and supervised and demonstrated a positive approach to their work. Quality in the home was monitored in a number of different ways and comments and suggestions received were acted upon.