Godden Lodge Care Home

Updated 2 September 2023

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 completed by 2 inspectors and 2 Experts by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Gooden Lodge Care Home 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. Godden Lodge Care Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. A new manager was in post and had applied to register with the Care Quality Commission. We are currently assessing this application.

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. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return [PIR] prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 12 people who used the service and 11 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff, which included unit managers, qualified nurses and care staff. In addition, we spoke with the manager and area director for Godden Lodge Care Home. We also spoke with the provider's quality assurance representative. We reviewed 14 people's care files and 4 staff personnel files. We also looked at the service's quality assurance systems, the provider's arrangements for managing medication, staff training and supervision records, safeguarding concerns, complaint and compliment records.

Updated 2 September 2023

About the service

Godden Lodge Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for people aged 65 and over. Some people have dementia related needs and other people require palliative and end of life care. The service consists of 4 houses: Victoria House, Cephas House, Boyce House and Murrelle House. At the time of inspection Murrelle House was not operational. The service can support up to 133 people and at the time of our inspection there were 60 people living at the service.

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

Suitable arrangements were in place to keep people safe. Policies and procedures were followed by staff to safeguard people and staff understood these procedures. Risks to people were identified and managed to prevent people from receiving unsafe care and support. Medicine arrangements ensured people received their prescribed medication and staff’s practice was safe. Although there were mixed comments from relatives about staffing levels, during the inspection we found the service to be appropriately staffed to meet people’s care and support needs. Recruitment practices were safe to ensure the right staff were employed to care for vulnerable individuals. People were protected by the provider's arrangements for the prevention and control of infection. Arrangements were in place for learning and making improvements.

Staff received appropriate training opportunities. Suitable arrangements were in place for staff to receive a robust induction and regular formal supervision. The dining experience was positive, and people's nutritional and hydration needs were met. The service ensured people received appropriate healthcare support as and when needed from a variety of professional healthcare services. Improvements had been made to the environment. The service worked together with other organisations to ensure people received coordinated care and 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 treated with care, kindness, dignity, and respect. People received care and support that met their needs and preferences. Staff had a good knowledge and understanding of people's specific care and support needs and how they wished to be cared for and supported. The rapport between staff and people using the service was positive. Individuals had a support plan in place describing their specific care and support needs; and the delivery of care to be provided by staff.

People’s social care needs were met. Complaints were investigated and managed. Robust arrangements were in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service provided. Relatives and staff were complimentary regarding the new manager.

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 March 2023).

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 improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider seek independent advice and guidance to improve the service’s staff training arrangements and ensure the premises are suitable to meet people’s needs. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on these recommendations and improvements had been made.

This service has been in Special Measures since 17 March 2023. 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

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last 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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

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