Clarendon Lodge

Updated 26 February 2022

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 included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements. 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

This inspection was completed by one Inspector.

Service and service type

Clarendon 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 inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with us. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who live at Clarendon Lodge and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, senior, care workers, maintenance and the chef. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 26 February 2022

About the service

Clarendon Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 40 people. The home provides support to older people and people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 21 people living at Clarendon Lodge.

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

People felt safe with the care they received, and staff were knowledgeable about when to report concerns to safeguard people. Risk assessments identified people’s individual support needs, and professionals were referred where people needed this input. Where things went wrong, this was shared with staff and lessons were learnt and changes implemented.

Medicines were given to people when they needed them, and staff were skilled to administer these medicines.

Infection prevention control measures were in place and staff were wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staff felt they had the right training and skills to support people and were knowledgeable about their role. Staff had focused training which was linked to specific support needs for people. The provider ensured there was an independent person who tested staff knowledge.

People were supported with their dietary needs. All staff were aware of people’s preference and made sure people’s health and dietary needs were met.

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 home supported this practice.

People and staff were able to engage in conversations about the care home and how to shape the support people received for the better. The registered manager spoke about their challenges with recruitment, however, were proactively looking at ways to improve this.

The registered manager had implemented a lot of changes since their move into the new location, this had been acknowledged by the staff team as well as partner agencies. Systems were being used in a robust way and there were clear outcomes from the quality assurance systems.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 21 January 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 15 January 2021 and this is the first inspection. As part of the registration we imposed conditions on Clarendon Lodge registration and we reviewed these conditions as part of our 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. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

Follow up

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