About the service: Wood Way Lodge provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our visit four people lived at the home. Accommodation is provided in a single storey converted house. The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service:
The provider’s quality monitoring systems were not effective to ensure people received individualised care and areas requiring improvement were identified. Low staffing levels had significant potential to affect people’s safety. Individual and environmental risks and people’s medicines were not always well-managed. People felt safe and were protected from avoidable harm.
People’s nutritional needs were met. Staff were recruited safely and received the training and support needed to fulfil their roles. People were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not always support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the home did not always support least restrictive practice.
The outcomes for people did not fully reflect the principles and values of Registering the Right Support because people’s choice and control over when they could engage in social activities outside of the home was limited.
People’s privacy and dignity was not always upheld. People’s independence was promoted. Staff were caring in nature but did not always have enough time to consistently provide person centred care. People had developed meaningful relationships with staff and staff recognised the importance of supporting people to maintain relationships with their families and the local community.
People’s needs were assessed prior to moving into the home. Care plans were personalised and detailed. The provider’s complaints procedure was available in the home. Complaints had been managed in line with the procedure.
The provider had not maintained a good level of organisational oversight of the service. This meant some previously demonstrated standards had not been sustained. The provider and staff worked in partnership with other professionals to improve outcomes for people. Staff felt supported. The provider was committed to addressing areas where improvement was needed to benefit people.
The registered provider was in breach of Regulations 12, 17 and 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: Good (report published May 2017).
Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.