Platters Farm Lodge

Updated 23 July 2021

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.

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 team consisted of two inspectors.

Service and service type

Platters Farm Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 to five people who used the service and four relatives. We spoke to nine members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, director of care and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care plans and medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the managements of the service, including quality assurance audits.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence we found. We looked at training data and feedback from people.

Updated 23 July 2021

About the service

Platters Farm lodge is a residential home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 43 older people. At the time of inspection there were 31 people living at the service with a variety of needs. Needs included people living with dementia and with a physical disability. The home consists of 3 separate wings, each of which has separate adapted facilities. One of the wing’s provides specialist care for people living with dementia.

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

People in the service were kept safe from harm and abuse. People were cared for in a safe environment. Medicines were managed safely, and enough staff were deployed to keep people safe. The provider followed infection, prevention and control guidance.

The service assessed people’s needs before admitting them to the service. People were supported by staff who were adequately trained to meet their needs. 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 and their relatives told us the support they and their loved ones received was kind and caring. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible. We observed caring and compassionate interactions between staff and people.

People were receiving person-centred care and their communication needs were being met. Relatives told us they were able to visit and were happy with the process.

The registered manager worked well with other agencies to ensure joined up care for people. Effective audits were in place to ensure the quality of the service delivered by staff. Staff spoke highly of the management team.

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 was good (published 12 November 2020) covering two key questions safe and well-led).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.