Lawford Lodge

Updated 15 May 2021

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.

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 one inspector.

Service and service type

Lawford Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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 48 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

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. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We reviewed our systems to determine what activity had taken place with this service since they registered with us. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who regularly used the respite service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three 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 looked at training data, competency checks and quality assurance records. We spoke with one professional who regularly liaises with the service.

Updated 15 May 2021

About the service

Lawford Lodge is a care home providing respite care for people aged 18 to 25 with profound disabilities and complex medical needs. The service can support up to two people. At the time of the inspection there were no people receiving respite. The two most recent people to have had respite at Lawford Lodge went home the day prior to the inspection.

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

Staff knew what signs and symptoms could indicate people are experiencing abuse or harm. Staff felt confident management would listen and act if they raised concerns.

People felt safe. There were enough staff to keep people safe and meet people’s individual needs. Staff knew people well and had a good understanding of their individual risks and how to minimise them without being unduly restrictive. There were robust processes in place to ensure the safe recruitment of staff.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives during their respite stays 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.

Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and how it applied to the people there. This provided protection for people who do not have capacity to make decisions for themselves. People’s consent was consistently sought prior to support being offered. Records and a person confirmed this.

A range of audits and regular checks helped ensure service quality was maintained and areas for improvement identified. Learning was shared with staff and used to develop the service. Staff told us they were supported to progress professionally which made them feel motivated and confident in their roles. Staff told us their work during the COVID-19 pandemic had been recognised and rewarded.

People were supported by staff who had received the necessary training and ongoing support to help them meet people’s complex support needs with confidence, dignity and respect. Staff competency was monitored on an ongoing basis through practice observations, regular supervision and appraisals.

Staff got on well with their colleagues and felt supported by the registered manager. People, relatives, staff and professionals were unanimously positive about the registered manager and said the service was well run. A person told us, “[The registered manager] is very nice and helps a lot. I love staying here.”

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.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support:

• The model of care and service setting maximised people’s choice, control and independence

Right care:

• Care provided at the service was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights

Right culture:

• The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of management and care staff ensured people

using the respite service led confident, inclusive and empowered lives

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

Rating at last inspection

The service was registered with us on 01/07/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We inspected this service as they had not been inspected by us since registering with us. We had not received any concerning information about this service from the time of their registration up to and including the time we carried out this inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.