Sands Lodge

Sands Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care without nursing for up to eighteen people with mental health issues. At the time of inspection eighteen people were using the service. The service is set over three levels with large gardens in a residential area.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they were happy living at the service. One person said, “The staff are marvellous.” Another person said, “The manager is the best, very good.”

Care and treatment were planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. Staff had received appropriate training. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection and to learn lessons from accidents and incidents. Medication was administered by staff who had received training to do so.

The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to other health professionals were made when required. The environment was well maintained and suitable for people.

Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences of care. Staff promoted people’s independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed choices.

People and their relatives and advocates were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The registered manager responded to complaints received in a timely manner. People were supported to make plans for the end of their life.

The registered manager had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis.

Rating at last inspection The last rating for this service was Good (last report published 03/06/2017).

Why we inspected This was a comprehensive inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Sands Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

The service provides accommodation and support for up to 18 people with mental health issues. There were 18 people living at the service at the time of our inspection.

At our last inspection the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The service was safe. Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. People’s needs were met by sufficient numbers of staff. Medication was dispensed by staff who had received training to do so.

The service was effective. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to support people to meet their needs. The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People were supported with their nutritional needs and had access to healthcare when required.

The service was caring. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences of care. People’s care was individually planned for their needs.

The service was responsive. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and also when there was a change in care needs. People were supported to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The registered manager responded to complaints received in a timely manner.

The service was well-led. The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis.

We spoke with five staff, which included the manager, care staff, the cleaner and housekeeper. We reviewed three people's care planning files and three staff personnel files.

We saw that the provider had employed a manager to ensure the service was well led. The provider had a range of effective systems in place to ensure people received the care they needed.

During our visit a person raised an issue with us which we passed to the manager who took responsive action.

We saw that people's needs were assessed and that staff cared for people properly, taking into account individual's preferences for how they wished to be treated and cared for.

Staff we spoke with had a good knowledge of the needs of people living in the home and we saw that staff supported people in an appropriate and sensitive way.

There were arrangements in place to ensure that staff were trained and supported to care for people properly.

The service was reviewed regularly to ensure that people received safe and appropriate care and treatment that met their needs.