We carried out a review of the data available to us about Elm Lodge on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Elm Lodge, you can give feedback on this service.
About the service
Elm Lodge is a care home for people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, providing personal care for three people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to three people. Everyone had their own bedroom, bathroom and lounge area. Two people shared a large kitchen and one person had their own kitchen area. Everyone could share the use of a dining room and garden.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support; Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence over their lives. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests in the local community. The service provided people with care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, and well-furnished environment which met their physical and sensory needs. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care and support in the community. Staff supported people with their medicines safely to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
Right Care: People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff understood people’s cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. Relatives spoke positively about the staff team. One relative said; “[The staff] are very responsive and available…. I could not praise them enough.” People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs. People could pursue interests that were tailored to them. The service gave people opportunities to try new activities that enhanced and enriched their lives.
Right culture; People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments and sensitivities people with a learning disability or autism may have. Staff knew and understood people well. They were responsive and supported peoples wishes to live a quality life of their choosing. People and their relatives were involved with planning their care.
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.
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 good (published 4 March 2021).
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.
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.
We received concerns in relation to staffing levels and how people were supported. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.
The overall rating for the service has remained good based on the findings of this inspection.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the safe, effective and well-led sections of this full report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Elm Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
Elm 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. Elm Lodge is a care home without nursing, which can accommodate three people. At the time of our inspection three people with learning difficulties were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives were not consistently involved in the review and development of care plans.
Relatives and professionals linked to the service told us that management were not consistently responding to issues in a timely manner.
Relatives and people told us they felt safe with the staff who supported them.
Staff had regular safeguarding training and knew about the different types of abuse. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to protecting people from the risk of harm. Where risks to people had been identified, risk assessments were in place.
People received their medicines when they needed them. Staff were very knowledgeable about people’s changing needs.
People were supported by staff who were well trained and competent in their role. People were assessed before they used the service to ensure their needs and preferences could be met. Staff understood the importance of ensuring people's rights were understood and respected.
People and their relatives told us they felt well cared for by staff who treated them with respect and dignity and encouraged them to maintain relationships and keep their independence for as long as possible.
Where people lacked capacity, 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’s communication needs were assessed and understood by staff. People were provided with information in a format which met their needs.
Staff liaised with other health care professionals to ensure people's safety and meet their health needs.
Staff spoke positively about working for the provider. They felt well supported and that they could talk to management at any time, feeling confident any concerns would be acted on promptly. They felt valued and happy in their role.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were working towards consistently meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support:
People were supported to be independent and have choice and control. There were systems in place to make sure their voices were heard.
Right care:
Care was delivered in a way which meant people's human rights were respected.
Right culture:
Elm Lodge were working with management and staff at all levels to continually improve the culture of the service. Staff were aware of the organisations visions and values which were centred around supporting people to live meaningful lives.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 04/06/2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation the management of safeguarding incidents. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe and Well-Led sections of this full report.
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.