Background to this inspection
Updated
26 January 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.
This inspection took place on 5 January 2022 and was unannounced.
Updated
26 January 2022
About the service
Hunters Lodge is a residential care home and a supported living service. One person received personal care support in their own home, and 12 people received personal care in the care home, at the time of the inspection.
The care home was bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 17 people. Twelve people were using the care home service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
Hunters Lodge is also a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care to people in their own homes. They support adults who have learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection the service supported one person, in their own property, in a neighbouring village. Night time support was provided by sleep-in staff.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe living in the care home. The arrangements in place ensured people were protected from the risk of abuse.
People lived in a property that was well maintained and regular health and safety checks ensured the care home environment was safe.
People were supported by enough care staff to meet their needs.
People received their prescribed medicines when they needed them, and the care staff had been appropriately trained to administer medication safely.
People lived in an environment that was clean and tidy. They were protected from the risk of infections spreading by the cleaning procedures the care home had in place.
People had appropriate care plans in place which guided staff on how they needed to be supported. People, and their relatives where appropriate, were involved in reviewing care plans to make sure they were accurate.
People were supported by care staff who had received appropriate training.
People liked the food, and the care staff helped people to eat and drink safely and maintain a balanced diet.
People were supported to attend local day centres and there was good communication between the care home and day centre staff.
People had personalised their bedrooms and lived in a building which had been adapted to meet their needs.
People were enabled to access health care support when they needed to, and care staff had good links with health care professionals.
People’s privacy and dignity were respected by the care staff, and people were supported to maintain and increase their independence.
People were supported by care staff who were kind to them.
People could choose to take part in house meetings and be involved in decisions about menus, activities and transport.
People were supported by care staff who were attentive to their changing needs. Care plans were updated when people’s needs changed.
People’s communication needs were understood by the care staff. Documents were written in accessible formats.
People were supported to maintain contact with their relatives if they wished to.
People took part in activities within the care home and in their local community. Care staff wanted to increase the range and frequency of activities for people.
People had access to an easy read complaints procedure and told us they would tell the care staff if they were unhappy about anything.
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.
The service applied the principles and values 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.
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 requires improvement (published 2 August 2018) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. 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.
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.