Avon Lodge

Updated 6 July 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 carried out by 1 inspector and 1 Expert 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

Avon Lodge 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. Avon Lodge is a care home without 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 a registered manager in post.

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. 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 5 people who used the service and 2 relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, 2 senior care assistants, 2 care assistants,1 domestic staff and 1 kitchen assistant. We undertook observations of people receiving care to help us understand their experiences, especially for those people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and 5 medication records. We looked at 5 staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, accident and incidents, training and quality assurance were also reviewed.

After the inspection we looked at more records and continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with 10 more relatives and friends of people living at the home over the telephone.

Updated 6 July 2023

About the service

Avon Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to older people and people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 36 people living at Avon Lodge.

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

The service was safe and people were protected from harm. Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding adults from abuse and knew what to do if they had any concerns and how to report them.

Risks to people using the service were assessed and their safety was monitored and managed, with minimal restrictions on their freedom.

People were supported by staff who had been checked to ensure they were safe to work at the service. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to meet people's needs and support them to stay safe.

Medicines were stored, managed, and administered safely. Staff were trained, and their competency checked.

People using the service were supported to have sufficient amounts to eat and drink and maintain a healthy balanced diet.

People were treated with kindness, respect, and compassion. People also received emotional support when needed. The atmosphere in the home was calm and relaxed. Staff knew people well and were knowledgeable about their needs and preferences.

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 staff spoke highly of the management team and told us they felt supported. CQC's registration requirements were met and complied with, and effective quality assurance procedures were in place.

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 12 November 2021).

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 the provider to review systems and processes around mealtimes to improve people’s experiences. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on our recommendation and they had made improvements.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service in November 2021. Breaches of legal requirements were found. We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

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 changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Avon 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.