Bethany Lodge

Updated 23 January 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions.This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 28 November 2017 and was unannounced.The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

As part of the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

We requested information about the home from the local authority and Healthwatch. The local authority has responsibility for funding people who used the service and monitoring its quality. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion, which promotes the views and experiences of people who use health and social care

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form the provider completes to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.The provider returned the PIR and we took this into account when we made the judgements in this report.

During our inspection we spent time with people in the different communal areas of the home. We spoke with two people living at the home, three staff, one shift leader, the registered manager and one relative.The following day we spoke with another two relatives via the telephone. We also used the short observational framework tool (SOFI) to help us assess whether people's needs were appropriately met and to identify if people experienced good standards of care. SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experiences of people who could not talk with us.

We looked at a range of documents and written records including three people's care records, staff training and recruitment records and minutes of meetings with staff. We saw the checks made by senior staff on the administration of people’s medicines. In addition, we looked how complaints processes were promoted and managed.

We also looked at information about how the registered manager monitored the quality of the service provided and the actions they took to develop the service people received further.These included quality questionnaires completed by people and their relatives, and checks made on the care planned for people and the suitability and safety of the home.

Updated 23 January 2018

Bethany Lodge is a residential care home for people who may have learning disabilities and or have an autistic spectrum condition. At the time of our inspection 7 people were living at the home. The home has lounge, dining room, activity room, and multi-sensory room for relaxation, art room for activities, five individual bedrooms, and two apartments.

At the last inspection in November 2015 , the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

People and their relatives told us they continued to receive care which protected them from avoidable harm and abuse. Risks to people’s safety were identified and measures were in place to help reduce these risks. When people required support to take their medicines this only happened when staff had received the training to do so. Regular checks on staff practices were undertaken to support people’s safety. There was enough staff to provide support to people to meet their needs.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice

People were provided with care which continued to be effective in meeting their particular needs. Staff had received training to provide them the skills and knowledge they needed to provide the right care and support people required.

People enjoyed spending time with the staff that cared for them and were treated with dignity and respect. People were encouraged to maintain their own personal interests and take part in activities.

People’s care was planned in ways which reflected their preferences and wishes. Relatives’ and health and social care professionals’ views and suggestions were taken into account when people’s care was planned. People knew how to complain. The complaint procedure was available in Easy Read Format so everyone could access.

People living at the home and their relatives were encouraged to give feedback on the service provided. The registered manager and provider regularly checked the quality of the care people received. Where actions were identified these were undertaken to improve people’s care further.