Parkbrook Lodge

Updated 16 February 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Parkbrook Lodge is a ‘care 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 had a manager who had applied to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means once they are registered, they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke and communicated with five people who used the service. Three people verbally communicated their experiences. Two people who were unable to talk with us used different ways of communicating, including using Makaton, pictures, objects and their body language. We contacted seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff, including the registered manager, senior care workers and care workers. We looked at two staff files in relation to safe recruitment. We reviewed two care plans and related health reports. We examined a variety of records relating to daily care practices, risk assessments and management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 16 February 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Parkbrook Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to ten people with a learning disability and autistic people. At the time of the inspection, nine people were living at the home, although one person was in hospital.

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

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

People had a choice and control about living safely in their living environment. One person said, “I love it here. I love my bedroom.” We saw how people had a choice of locking their bedrooms if they chose, for privacy and security reasons.

The service supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence and they had control over their own lives. Relatives told us people were encouraged to take positive risks.

Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Risks to decision making were explained in ways people could understand. One staff member told us, “We used a Widgit software system to communicate risks to people." A Widgit system uses symbol-based language or pictures instead of written words.

Right Care

People received care that supported their needs and aspirations, was focused on their quality of life, and followed best practice. The provider ensured people’s goals were risk assessed and people were supported safely. One person told us they enjoyed having a job. They said, “I have a job; it’s important. I’m important.” We saw a job description and risk assessment for this person. It detailed how they would be safely supported.

Relatives told us they felt people were safe and received the right amount of care and support. The manager worked with disability groups to ensure the service received the most up to date information.

Right Culture

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. Staff told us how they would recognise pain, distress and discomfort in people who could not verbally communicate.

People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have.

Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate. We saw how people were included in regular meetings. Relatives told us they were regularly consulted and involved in reviews of support and care needs.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 04 April 2018).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of 'Right support Right care Right culture'. The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the care and support people received. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has not changed following this focused inspection and remains good.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.