Brendon Lodge

Updated 28 November 2024

Date of Assessment: 5 to 18 December 2024. The service is a residential care home providing personal care that can accommodate up to 9 people. This is a specialist service for people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum, physical disability and sensory impairment. At the time of our assessment 8 people were living at the service. We undertook this responsive assessment following information of concern we received about the service. We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. People’s risk assessments were person-centred detailing steps for staff to follow to keep people safe. Staff ensured the care home environment was safe and clean. People engaged in activities both at the service and in the community and had opportunities to offer feedback regarding the care they received. We identified 1 breach of legal regulation in relation to failure to notify CQC of all safeguarding incidents. The registered manager had ensured people’s safety, following concerns and had raised a safeguarding alert to the local authority however had not always informed CQC as required. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found in this assessment.

Updated 28 November 2024

During the assessment, we received feedback from people who used the service and their relatives. Some people could not directly tell us about their experience. For these individuals we used observation to assess the quality of care they received.

People told us that they felt safe at the service and were happy with the staff. They told us they were given choice around their daily routines and care. For example, one person told us that they could go to bed and get up when they wanted. Staff interacted positively with people in a kind and caring manner, demonstrating an emphasis on delivering person-centred care. People attended a number of activities both in the community and at home including a visiting therapist offering massage, pedicures and music therapy sessions. People were supported to maintain relationships with their families, one person had a taxi booked to visit their Mum independently.

Overall relatives felt that their loved ones were safe, and that staff were knowledgeable and knew their loved ones well. They said that their loved one’s specific health needs were well managed and that they were kept up to date with their loved one’s health and support needs. Relatives said they were kept informed of decisions around their loved one’s medication. Relatives felt that their concerns were listened to, and appropriate action taken. All relatives thought the service was clean and that staff wore personal protective equipment appropriately and that they were informed if anyone was unwell at the service prior to visiting. Relatives said that they thought their loved ones live a fulfilled life, e.g. with activities. However, we received some feedback expressing concerns that the recent change in staffing had unsettled the service and that they hoped that they would be informed and involved in their loved one’s care following a change to the management and staff team which was discussed with the registered manager who took immediate action to address this.