Hope Lodge

Updated 30 November 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

This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and 1 specialist advisor.

Service and service type

Hope 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. Hope 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

To plan this inspection we reviewed historical information and information we had received about the service since our last inspection. The provider had not been asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke with the 3 people using the service, 2 relatives, the registered manager, the acting manager, 2 support workers and 2 external professionals involved in the service. The conversations took place in person and over the phone. We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 peoples support plans, 3 staff files, training records, daily records, and quality assurance processes.

Updated 30 November 2023

About the service

Hope Lodge is a small care home providing care and support to up to 3 people with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection, there were 3 people using the service accommodated in individual en suite rooms.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

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 their relatives told us Hope Lodge was safe. We found risks to people's health and wellbeing were identified and effective measures were in place to mitigate these.

People's medicines were managed safely. People were protected from the risk of infections as the home was clean and hygienic.

The provider recruited staff safely and there were enough staff on duty to keep people safe and respond to people's needs. People received support from staff who had the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. Staff worked well with other health and social care professionals to ensure people's physical and mental healthcare was supported.

The provider had recently renovated the décor and layout of the premises including the garden to promote people's comfort.

People were treated with kindness and received person-centred care from well trained staff that knew them well. People were engaged in a range of activities and the provider ensured they had opportunities for social stimulation and community engagement.

We received positive feedback from people receiving care, relatives, staff and professionals about the management and culture of the service. One person receiving care said, "I am very happy here. The format [of this service] should be taken to other homes for them to emulate". A member of staff told us, "I am proud of working with this client group because I am learning to be open to every situation".

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 02 March 2018). At this inspection we found the provider maintained the good rating.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted partly due to concerns received regarding risk management. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

Follow up

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