We carried out a review of the data available to us about Milton Lodge Retirement Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Milton Lodge Retirement Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
People were supported to stay in regular contact with friends and family. The provider had built a screen which could be fitted into an external doorway in the service to enable people to receive garden visits where possible. People were supported to make personalised gifts which they sent to their relatives and maintained frequent virtual contact through video and telephone calls.
The provider had considered the effect of lockdown and isolation on people’s wellbeing and had connected with volunteers from the local community to arrange distanced, outside entertainment for people living in the home. This included bringing a singer into the car park for Mother’s Day and VE Day so people could enjoy listening from their bedrooms.
Wall mounted Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stations stocked with masks, gloves and aprons were situated in a number of communal areas around the home and were easily accessible for staff.
Areas of the service which may be more frequently touched such as handles and light switches were identified with a symbol and increased cleaning was in place.
There was clear signage in the service alerting staff and visitors to relevant information about infection prevention and control. Visitors to the service were temperature checked and hand sanitiser was available on entry.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People's care was delivered safely. The staff team was consistent, employed in sufficient numbers and had the skills, training and recruitment checks in place to help ensure people were cared for safely. Risks within the service both individually and organisational were assessed and managed.
People's needs in relation to their health, diet and overall well-being were understood and met consistently.
People benefitted from a kind, caring and committed staff team. People and their relatives told us they were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. We observed positive and caring interactions between staff and the people they supported. People were able to be independent as possible and were also provided with prompt, sensitive support when needed.
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 had a positive culture and was led by a passionate and committed management team. Staff felt valued in their role and were determined to achieve good outcomes for people. The registered manager and staff had formed positive relationships with health and social care professionals and liaised with these services to help ensure people's full range of care needs were met. Quality assurance systems were effective in continuing to drive and sustain improvement across the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
The last The last rating for this service was Good (published 20 January 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.
Milton Lodge Retirement Home provides accommodation and personal care for up to 35 older people, some living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 32 people living at the service.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
During this inspection we found that there were enough staff to support people safely and they were clear about their roles. Recruitment practices were robust in contributing to protecting people from staff who were unsuitable to work within the care profession.
Staff knew what to do if they suspected someone may be being abused or harmed and medicines were managed and stored properly and safely so that people received them as the prescriber intended.
Staff had received the training they needed to understand how to meet people’s needs. They understood the importance of gaining consent from people before delivering their care or treatment. Where people were not able to give informed consent, staff and the manager ensured their rights were protected.
People had enough to eat and drink to meet their needs and staff assisted or prompted people with meals and fluids if they needed support. Mealtimes were relaxed and unrushed occasions.
Staff treated people with warmth and compassion. They were respectful of people’s privacy and dignity and offered comfort and reassurance when people were distressed or unsettled. Staff also made sure that people who became unwell were referred promptly to healthcare professionals for treatment and advice about their health and welfare.
Staff showed commitment to understanding and responding to each person’s preferences and needs so that they could engage meaningfully with people on an individual basis. The service offered people a chance to take part in activities and pastimes that were tailored to their preferences and wishes. People had close contact with the local community. Outings and outside entertainment was offered to people, and staff offered people activities and supported them on a daily basis.
Staff understood the importance of responding to and resolving concerns quickly if they were able to do so. Staff also ensured that more serious complaints were passed on to the management team for investigation. People and their representatives told us that they were confident that complaints they made would be addressed by the manager.
The service had good leadership; we found an open and positive culture that supported people in a person centred way. The staff told us that the manager was supportive and easy to talk to. The manager was responsible for monitoring the quality and safety of the service and they were supported by the operations manager and the providers visited the service regularly to check the quality of the service. People were asked for their views so that improvements identified were made where possible.