Bridle Lodge

Updated 6 September 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Bridle Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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 registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

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 with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five support workers. The regional operations managers supported the inspection.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication 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.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with three professionals who regularly visit the service. We spoke with three relatives and the registered manager.

Updated 6 September 2019

About the service

Bridle Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to five younger adults with learning disabilities and autism.

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 and what we found

The service applied the principles of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People were fully supported to achieve their dreams and goals. People were supported to access education and volunteering work. Systems had been developed to give people full control of what activities they wanted to participate in. People were fully integrated into the local community. People who were at risk of becoming socially isolated were now accessing the community. Communication systems in place in the service had empowered people to make decisions and gain independence. People received person-centred care and through effective communication systems were fully involved in the development of their care plans and risk assessments. Complaints procedures were in place and the service had fully ensured people knew how to complain. People’s wishes at the end of life were explored in great detail.

Systems were in place to ensure people were kept safe. There was enough staff to meet people’s needs. People received their medicines as prescribed. Infection control procedures were fully imbedded in the service.

People were supported by staff who had received an induction and ongoing training to ensure they had the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs. People were fully involved in the development of the menu and the purchasing of food. People were supported with their nutrition and hydration and received positive outcomes from this support. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by kind and caring staff, who respected people’s privacy and dignity. People were empowered to express their views and to be fully involved in decisions about their care.

The management team demonstrated a commitment to provide person-centred, high quality care.

People, relatives, staff and visiting professionals were all positive about the leadership of the service and were fully involved in the running of the service. There was an open and transparent culture within the service

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 good (published 11 January 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.