Loddon Court

Updated 30 November 2019

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

Our inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Dimensions Loddon Court 289 Wokingham Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service, which included information received about the service since the last inspection. We also checked for feedback we received from members of the public, local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). We contacted health and social care professionals who work with the service. We checked records held by Companies House, the Information Commissioner’s Office, the fire brigade and the Food Standards Agency.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We were unable to speak with people as they were out in the community during our site visit. However, we briefly observed their interactions with staff on arrival and on departure from the care home. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, assistant locality manager, and eight care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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 received evidence about the building and equipment, fire safety and staff survey results. We received written feedback from relatives and professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 30 November 2019

About the service

Dimensions Loddon Court 289 Wokingham Road is a care home which provides respite accommodation and personal care. People who use the service have learning disabilities or autism, and the length of their stay varies, from 24 hour periods to several months. The service also supports people who are transitioning from other care homes to independent living in the community. The care home can support eight people. At the time of our inspection, three people received respite care.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

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.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

People received safe care. Any risks to them were assessed, documented and mitigated to protect people from avoidable harm. A relative stated, “[The person] presents with challenging behaviour and can become anxious and aggressive and I am always informed if he has any anxious moments in his stay. It is written in his communication book for me and I am told upon collection. The environment is safe for [the person’s needs…”

The service’s bathrooms required maintenance to ensure people’s needs were met. One bathroom was out of use entirely. The other bathroom’s temperature was exceeded safe levels and meant for people whose preference was a bath, they were restricted from taking a bath. Instead, they were offered washes in their room to ensure cleanliness. The registered manager and provider had attempted to have these issues rectified with the landlord, but without success. After our site visit, the ventilation system was repaired which ensured people were safe and the bathroom could be used again.

Staff were knowledgeable and skilled. They were competently able to provide the support people required. A community nurse said, “[This is] a valid service for the individuals we support to access. As a member of the local community team, I am happy with the excellent communication between us and they never hesitate to contact us for advice and support. I also know and support a number of individuals who have accessed this service and they are also very happy with the support they receive.”

We observed people’s support was very caring. Relatives, commissioners and professionals described the service as caring and staff as kind. We received comments from a social worker who wrote, “I have heard very positive feedback from service users and parents regarding their care. The other service users, all with complex needs are very satisfied with the service and enjoy going for respite.”

People’s care was specifically tailored to their individual needs. A dietitian told us, “I have found the care staff offering dignified and individualised care. Staff respond to health needs quickly and work with health care staff in [my team]. I have no concerns regarding the safety or care of clients in their care.”

The service was well-managed. There was a positive workplace culture. The registered manager ensured audits and checks were completed regularly to ensure the safety and quality of people’s care. The local authority commented, “The [registered] manager…communicates regularly with us and always follows up promptly and thoroughly on any concerns.”

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 24 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.