Sonia Lodge

Updated 2 November 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Sonia Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Sonia Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. However, the provider was taking action to address this.

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 received feedback from professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who lived at the service. We spoke to two relatives about the care and support their relative received. We spoke with six members of staff including the provider, deputy manager, care staff and housekeeping. We observed the support staff provided to people when they were in the living and dining areas. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 2 November 2022

About the service

Sonia Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 28 people. The service provides support to older people including people with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were nine people using the service. People lived in one adapted residential building which was split over two floors. There was a lift to ensure the second floor was accessible to people.

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

People who used the service and their relatives were positive about the service. One person said, “I feel well cared for here. I feel it is safe living here. I am happy.” A relative said, “I am happy with the home. The staff are really nice.”

There had been significant improvements since the last inspection. However, there were still some improvements to make. Quality assurance checks had not identified that recruitment processes had not been updated to ensure information on staff employment history was complete. The provider had not always ensured safety was prioritised as gas safety checks had not always been up to date. Some care plans needed more detail about the support people needed. However, staff knew what support people needed.

Medicines management had improved, and people were receiving their medicines as prescribed. People felt safe living at the service and staff knew how to raise concerns if needed. The service was clean, and people were protected from the risk of infection. The recording of incidents and actions taken to reduce risk had improved. There was a system in place to analyse if there were trends of patterns of accidents.

There was enough staff to support people. Staff engaged with people well and chatted to people throughout the day. Staff moral had improved, and the atmosphere was happier. People were positive about the service and liked the staff who were supporting them. Staff told us they felt supported.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff supported people to make choices as appropriate.

People and their relatives could feed back their views about the service though surveys and meetings. Where people had made suggestions about improvements the provider had listened and acted. The service worked in partnership with other services to drive forward improvements and respond to changes in people’s health needs.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 06 July 2022).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found some areas had improved. However, some further improvements were needed, and the provider remained in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since 20 April 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced focused inspection of this service on 02 March 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment, dignity and respect, good governance, staffing and recruitment.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements. 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 changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make further improvement. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified a breach in relation to good governance.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

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