Bay Lodge

Updated 18 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 12 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

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Updated 18 February 2022

About the service

Bay Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to five people under 65 years of age at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six people younger adults with learning disabilities and/or autism.

The care home accommodated five people in a detached adapted building and additional accommodation was provided for one person in a purpose built bungalow in the grounds.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People were relaxed with staff and showed by their actions they trusted them. A person’s relative said, “We couldn’t have found a better place for them.” Staff encouraged people to become more independent and identified activities to interest and engage them. Some people were regularly attending courses at a local college. The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

People continued to be safe at the service. Staff knew how to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. They completed risk assessments and actions were identified to keep people safe while not unnecessarily restricting their freedom. Staffing levels were planned to enable people to receive their required levels of support in the service and when in the community. People received their prescribed medicines regularly and medicines were managed safely.

Staff were knowledgeable about people’s care and support needs and received training to maintain their knowledge and skills. Most people had complex needs and staff involved other professionals, to ensure they gained a full understanding of the factors influencing each person and developed an individualised approach to their care. Care plans contained detailed information about each person’s individual support needs and preferences in relation to their care.

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. When people did not have the capacity to make their own decisions, staff maximised their involvement and made decisions in their best interests, in accordance with legislation.

The home continued to be well led. The registered manager provided daily leadership and support. Staff felt able to raise concerns and discuss issues openly. Quality assurance processes were in place and actions were taken to address issues identified in the audits. The provider had a range of systems in place to monitor service performance and quality indicators and there was a commitment to continuous quality improvement.

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 3 June 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.