Hunters Lodge

Updated 7 November 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 18 and 25 September 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Prior to our inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this information into account during the planning of our inspection of the service.

As part of our inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service. We contacted representatives from the local authority and Healthwatch for their views about the service and looked at the statutory notifications the provider had sent us. Healthwatch are an independent national champion for people who use health and social care services. A statutory notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to send to us by law.

During the inspection visit, we spoke with three people who used the service, five relatives, one person’s friend and a community health and social care professional. In addition, we spoke with the registered manager, one senior care staff member and four care staff. We looked at a range of documentation, including four people's care and assessment records, safeguarding records, medicines records, complaints records, accident and incidents records, and staff training records. We also looked at two staff members' recruitment records and records associated with the provider's quality assurance.

We also spent time in the communal areas of the home and the home’s rear garden to observe how staff supported and responded to people.

Updated 7 November 2018

The inspection took place on 18 and 25 September and was unannounced.

Hunter’s Lodge is a 'care home' which provides accommodation and personal care for up to ten people with a learning disability, mental health needs, an acquired brain injury or multiple complex needs. At the time of our inspection visit, ten people were living at the home. People in care

homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service is required to have a registered manager and there was a registered manager in post. 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.

At the last inspection on 17 February 2016, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found the service remained Good.

Staff received training in, and understood, their responsibility to protect people from abuse and neglect. The risks associated with people’s care and support needs had been assessed, kept under review and plans were in place to manage these. The provider’s staffing arrangements meant people’s needs could be met safely, and in a person-centred way. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. Steps had been taken to protect people, visitors and staff from the risk of infection.

People's individual needs and requirements were assessed prior to them moving into the home. Staff received an effective induction, further training and ongoing management support to enable them to succeed in their roles. People had support to eat and drink safely and comfortably, and any associated risks or complex needs were assessed and managed. Staff played a positive role in helping people maintain their health and attend routine medical appointments. People's rights under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were understood and promoted by staff and management.

Staff approached their work with kindness and compassion. People had support to express their views and opinions, and participate in decision-making that affected them. People's privacy, dignity and independence were promoted by staff and management.

People received person-centred care and support, which reflected their individual needs and requirements. They received support from staff to participate in a range of recreational and social activities, based upon their known interests and preferences. The provider had procedures in place to promote good complaints handling.

The management team promoted an open and inclusive culture within the service. People, their relatives and staff felt able to approach the management team at any time. Staff benefitted from effective leadership, and felt valued and well-supported in their work. The provider carried out audits and checks to assess and improve the quality of the care and support people received.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.