Sycamore Lodge Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

• Systems were in place to ensure people received visitors to the service. Facilities were available for visitors to wash and sanitise their hands and put on PPE.

• The service had the use of a visiting room.

• Furniture within communal areas, such as the lounge, had been positioned to encourage social distancing.

• The service had good supplies of PPE that were readily available in stations throughout the service. Clinical waste bins were positioned so that staff could access them when required.

• Staff had received training on infection control. A new infection control lead had been identified and further training was being arranged.

• People and staff received regular coronavirus tests in line with the government's current testing programme.

Sycamore Lodge is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to older people, people with dementia and younger adults. The service can support up to 45 people in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection 42 people were using the service.

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

People said they felt safe living at the service. Staff were trained to identify and respond to any concerns. Staff were aware of risks to people's safety and wellbeing and acted to reduce risks whilst still promoting people's independence and skills. People received their medicines as prescribed. Infection control was managed well, the environment was clean and well maintained and staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were involved in decisions and their choices respected.

There was a positive culture in the service. People, their relatives and staff felt confident they could speak up and knew they would be listened to. The staff team were motivated and enjoyed their work and were appreciative of the support they received. Systems were in place to check the quality and safety of the service and the provider demonstrated commitment to continual improvement.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission's (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 14 November 2017).

Why we inspected

We undertook this announced focused inspection in line with our re inspection programme. The report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions of safe and well-led. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has not changed and remains good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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

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.

Sycamore Lodge provides personal and nursing care to a maximum of 45 people. It is situated in the town of Ashby on the outskirts of Scunthorpe. There are bedrooms and bathrooms on two floors, which can be accessed by a passenger lift or stairs. There is a range of communal areas including a conservatory and a number of lounges.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

Staff understood their responsibility to protect people from abuse or harm. They knew they must report potential issues to the management team, local authority or to the CQC, which helped to protect people.

Staffing levels provided met people’s needs and were kept under review. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing were identified and were monitored by staff to help minimise the risk present to people’s wellbeing.

Staff completed training in a variety of subjects on a regular basis to help to develop and maintain their skills. Supervision and appraisal was provided to staff to support them and identify any training or performance issues.

People’s dietary needs were monitored and special dietary needs were catered for. Choices of food and drink were provided and alternatives were offered if people did not like what was on the menu. Advice was sought from relevant health care professionals to ensure people’s nutritional needs were met.

People made decisions for themselves and consented to receive their care and support. Staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 when there were concerns people lacked mental capacity and important decisions needed to be made, this helped to protect people's rights.

People were cared for by caring attentive and kind staff who went the extra mile to provide people with high quality care. Caring support was provided to people’s relatives and visitors. Very positive comments were received about how caring the staff were.

People received exceptionally compassionate end of life care, which was very positively promoted at the service. People received exceptionally compassionate care which was planned in advance with them. We received exceptional comments about this support from people's relatives. The staff excelled to provide innovative ways of ensuring people achieved their last wishes in their life. The provider, registered manager and staff took pride in supporting people and their relatives at this time to ensure people felt well cared for and supported.

Activities were provided and people were encouraged to maintain their hobbies and interests.

A complaints procedure was in place for people and their relatives to use. Issues raised were acted upon straight away.

People’s views about the service were asked for informally on a daily basis by staff or formally through surveys.

On the first day of our inspection we found some environmental issues were present for example; the sluice required cleaning, some window restrictors needed fitting and a stairwell required a brighter light. A noise operated door guard on the kitchen door had to have the battery changed to ensure it worked if the fire alarm was activated. These issues were acted upon immediately and were resolved before we left the service. Checks were put in place and audits were undertaken to prevent these issues from occurring again. Audits were undertaken to monitor the service.

The provider and registered manager had an ‘open door’ policy in place and there was an on call system in operation, which allowed people, their relatives, visitors and staff to gain help and advice at any time.

The management team worked closely with the local authority and other health care professionals to champion a quality service and take part in pilot schemes to help to enhance the service provided.