Badgers Lodge

Updated 2 August 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

The inspection was completed by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Badgers 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. [Care home name] is a care home [with/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.

Inspection activity started on 21 June 2023 and ended on 29 June 2023. We visited the location’s service on 21 and 29 June 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the Local Authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We spoke with 2 people who use the service about their experience of the care provided. Where people were unable to talk with us, we observed people’s interactions with staff. We spoke with the registered manager, 4 members of staff and the service’s chef. We also spoke with the nominated Individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider was present during the inspection. We reviewed 3 people’s care files and 3 staff personnel files. We looked at the provider’s arrangements for managing risk and medicines management, staff training and supervision data, complaint, and compliment records. We also looked at the service’s quality assurance arrangements.

Updated 2 August 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Badgers Lodge is a nursing home that provides personal and nursing care to up to 10 people with complex learning disabilities or mental health and physical health care needs. At the time of this inspection there were 10 people using the service.

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

Right Support:

The service provided care and support in a well-equipped, well-furnished, and well-maintained environment that met people's sensory and physical needs. The service enables people living there to access the local community and its amenities. The premises did not feel unfriendly, intimidating or instutionalised.

People were able to use communal areas as they wished and to have ‘quiet time’ if they wanted to be alone.

People were supported by staff to take part in activities both ‘in-house’ and within the local community.

Staff enabled people to access healthcare provision and services as needed.

Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs having received formal training in specific communication language programmes such as Makaton.

Right Care:

People received care and support that was kind and caring. Staff protected people’s right to privacy and ensured they were treated with dignity and respect.

Staff understood how to protect people from harm and abuse.

People’s care plans reflected their needs and the level of support to be required by staff. Relatives confirmed they had been involved with their family member’s care plan and were aware of the information recorded.

Right Culture:

Staff were responsive to people’s care and support needs.

Staff felt valued and supported.

Staff were aware of the ethos and values of the provider.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement [Published 29 June 2022]

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last 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.

The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good based on the findings of this inspection.

Follow up

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