Hamilton Lodge

Updated 25 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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Hamilton 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. Hamilton 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.

Inspection activity started on 6 November 2023 and ended on 16 November 2023. We visited the location’s service on 6 and 9 November 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it had been registered with us. We contacted local partners, including Healthwatch Doncaster, for feedback about the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 spoke with 7 people who used the service. We also spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager and support workers. We observed people in the dining room, the lounge and in their rooms. We reviewed a range of records which included 3 people's care records and various medication records. We looked at 4 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A range of records relating to the management of the service including audits, analyses of data and policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 25 November 2023

About the service

Hamilton Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation for 8 people who require nursing or personal care at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 8 people.

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.

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

Right Support

Hamilton Lodge provided care and support that maximised people’s choice, control and independence. Systems were robust enough to demonstrate people’s safety was managed effectively. There were sufficient staff to ensure people were supported to participate in activities of their choice. 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.

Right Care

People told us they were happy and safe at Hamilton Lodge. Care at Hamilton Lodge was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People were empowered to make decisions about their which enabled them to live independent lives. The registered manager and staff put people's needs and wishes at the heart of everything they did.

Right Culture

The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the registered manager and the care staff ensured people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. There was a learning culture at the service which improved the care people received. The registered manager was knowledgeable about the service and the people who lived there. They had a clear vision for the service and created a culture of high quality support that empowered people to live their best 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 last rating for this service was good (published 18 October 2017).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service, specifically, the time elapsed since the last full inspection.

Follow up

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