This inspection took place on 15 February 2015 and was unannounced. The previous inspection was carried out on 3 July 2013 and there had been no breaches of legal requirements at that time.
Concord Lodge is registered to provide accommodation and personal care and is a residential assessment unit. The service comprises of seven self-contained flats for adults who have learning difficulties and/or complex needs. People stay at Concord Lodge for around three months. However this may be longer as people stay until their assessment is completed and suitable long term care and accommodation can be found. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service.
A registered manager was in post at the time of inspection. 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.
Staff received training to help them understand their obligations under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how it had an impact on their work. Staff we spoke with confirmed they had a good understanding. Within people’s support plans we found the service had acted in accordance with legal requirements when decisions had been made when people lacked capacity to make that decision themselves.
Staff had attended Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards training (DoLS). This is legislation to protect people who lack mental capacity and need to have their freedom restricted to keep them safe. One person using the service was subject to a DoLS authorisation. All documentation was appropriately completed that safeguarded the person’s human rights.
We found the provider had systems in place that safeguarded people. People we spoke with told us “Yes it is safe here. I would need to use the buzzer to go out the gate but I suppose it’s needed”.
There were sufficient staff numbers to enable them to perform their roles effectively. People who used the service told us they had no concerns with the numbers of staff on duty and felt they had sufficient one to one time and staff took them out when they needed support.
The provider had ensured that staff had the knowledge and skills they needed to carry out their roles effectively. Relevant training was undertaken and staff we spoke with were knowledgeable of people’s needs. One member of staff told us how they were supported to undertake further development training that enhanced their skills.
Systems were in place to safely manage people’s medicines. A policy was in place to guide staff through the process of ordering, stock control and the disposal of any unused medicines. One person told us how they were given their medicines by staff each day at the time expected in line with their prescription.
People were involved in reviews of their care needs to ensure that staff had up to date information about how to meet people’s needs.
People’s records demonstrated their involvement in their support planning and decision making processes. People we spoke with confirmed their involvement in the process and how staff respected their wishes.
Staff meetings and registered manager meetings took place with the service manager on a regular basis. Minutes were taken and any actions required were recorded.
Quality and safety in the home was monitored to support the registered manager in identifying any issues of concern. There were systems in place to obtain the views of people who used the service and their relatives. Satisfaction surveys were used when people left when they were asked to complete a questionnaire about the service they received.
The registered manager and senior staff were well respected was spoken of positively by staff and the people who used the service. Staff felt supported and guided in their role.