Norcott Lodge

Updated 30 June 2022

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.

As part of CQC's response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

The inspection took place on 18 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection.

Updated 30 June 2022

Norcott Lodge is a residential care home for nine people living with a range of complex needs. There are seven en-suite bedrooms with shared access to a kitchen and two dining and lounge areas, as well as two self-contained flats with their own kitchen, dining and lounge areas. People have the opportunity to live within small, personalised accommodation with the support of staff. There were nine people living at the home at the time of our inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained good.

On the day of our inspection a registered manager was in place. 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.

People were safe and relatives verified this. Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff knew what to do if safeguarding concerns were identified.

Assessments identifying risks to people and management plans to reduce those risks were in place to ensure people’s safety.

There were sufficient staffing levels to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service.

Staff had received the training they required for their job to enable them to meet people’s needs and were receiving regular supervisions.

Systems were in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service and areas for improvement were identified during internal audits and actions taken.

People’s medicines were managed safely.

The provider was compliant with the Mental Capacity Act 2015, people had decision specific mental capacity assessments and best interest decisions were routinely completed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

People were provided with personalised care and support. People’s needs in relation to the protected characteristics under the Equalities Act 2010, were taken into account in the planning of their care. People's communication needs were assessed and staff adapted their communication to better meet people’s needs.

People’s food and fluid was monitored to ensure they ate a diet which met their individual dietary needs. People were supported to access healthcare services to maintain their health and wellbeing.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring and people’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff.

Staff told us they felt supported by the management team and the team communicated regularly and effectively. People, relatives and staff had confidence in the leadership of the service.

People lived in a service which had been adapted to meet their needs and was focussed on providing high quality care that improved the wellbeing and independence of people living in the home. The service worked in partnership with other agencies to support care provision.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.