The inspection took place on the 24 October 2016 and was unannounced.Brendon Lodge provides care and accommodation for up to nine people. On the day of the inspection nine people were living in the home, six in the main house and three in the bungalow in the grounds. The service provides care for people with learning and or a physical disability and autism.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service provided good care and support to people allowing them to lead fulfilled and meaningful lives. Relatives said they felt people were safe and well cared for.
The interactions between people and staff were positive. We heard and saw people laughing and smiling. People looked comfortable, relaxed and happy in their home and with the people they lived with. Relatives were welcomed into the home and had clearly formed positive and trusting relationships with the staff team.
There was a positive culture within the service. Staff had a good understanding of people's needs and spoke in a compassionate and caring way about the people they supported.
There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people's needs and to keep them safe. The provider had effective recruitment and selection procedures in place and carried out checks when they employed staff to help ensure people were safe. Staff were well trained and aspects of training were used regularly when planning care and supporting people with their needs and lifestyle choices.
People were supported by staff who had a good understanding of how to keep them safe. All staff had undertaken training on safeguarding adults from abuse, they displayed good knowledge on how to report any concerns and were able to describe what action they would take to protect people from harm.
Staff encouraged people to be independent and promoted people's choice and freedom. People moved freely around the building and its grounds as they chose.
Care records were detailed. They contained detailed personalised information about how individuals wished to be supported. People's individual method of communication was taken into account and respected. People's risks were well managed, monitored and regularly reviewed to help keep people safe.
People were supported to take part in a range of activities both inside and outside in the community.
Activities were meaningful and reflected people's interests and hobbies.
People had their medicines managed safely.
People were supported to maintain good health through regular access to health and social care professionals, such as GPs and speech and language therapists.
People's dietary needs and any risks were understood and met by the staff team.
The manager and most staff demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported where possible to make everyday choices such as what they wanted to wear, eat and how to spend their time. The manager was aware of the correct procedures to follow when people did not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves and if safeguards were required, which could restrict them of their freedom and liberty.
Staff described the management as supportive and approachable. Staff were well supported through induction and on-going training.
The service had an open door policy. Relatives were always welcomed and people were supported to maintain relationships with those who mattered to them. People's relatives and health and social care opinions were sought and there were quality assurance systems in place that monitored people's satisfaction with the service. Some records and procedures associated with quality assurance needed to be reviewed and improved and we have made a recommendation about this.
Audits were carried out and investigations following incidents were used to help make improvements and ensure positive progress was made in the delivery of care and support provided by the service.