Archived: Camber Lodge

Updated 30 November 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

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

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people living at the service and two relatives. Some people could not verbally share their views of the service. Therefore, we observed people’s experiences of living at Camber Lodge. This included interactions with staff. We spoke with four members of staff the registered manager and nominated individual representing the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and everyone’s medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We also pathway tracked two people. This is where we check that the records for people match the care and support they received from staff.

After the inspection

We spoke with a relative and two visiting social care professionals including the local authority who had been working with the service. The provider and registered manager provided further information that included policies and procedures and quality monitoring documents.

Updated 30 November 2019

About the service

Camber Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation personal care and support for up to eight people, living with a learning disability, in an adapted house. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the service.

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.

Camber Lodge was a large house, that fitted into the local community. There were deliberately no identifying signs, to indicate it was a care home. Staff wore casual clothing and did not wear anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people. It was registered for the support of up to eight people. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However. the size of the service was mitigated as it had large communal spaces and the current occupancy was five people.

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. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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

Possible environmental risks to people were not always identified or well managed. Areas in the service needed general maintenance and improvement to ensure the safety of people.

Systems to monitor and maintain quality of the service had still not been fully established effectively in all areas. This meant some areas for improvement were not identified and responded to. For example, fire extinguishers were not secured to the wall and could fall on people.

People were protected from the risks of harm, abuse or discrimination because staff knew what actions they should take if they identified concerns. There were enough staff, who had been safely recruited, working to provide the support people needed, at times of their choice. Staff understood how to support people safely and risk assessments provided further guidance about individual risks. People were supported to receive their medicines when they needed them.

Staff had received training to meet people’s specific care needs. Staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported and had built trusting relationships with them. People were listened to and supported to have control and choice over their lives 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 capacity any restrictions to their liberty had been authorised by the local authority. People’s nutritional and health needs were met with involvement from health and social care professionals.

People received support from staff who were kind and caring. People were relaxed, comfortable and happy in the company of staff and engaged with them in a relaxed and positive way. Staff knew people well, understood their needs and how to communicate in with each in an individual and meaningful way. People were supported to take part in activities to meet their individual needs and wishes.

The registered manager had good oversight of the home, people and staff. They were able to tell us about people, their needs and interests. They were working to continually develop and improve the service. There was an open and supportive culture in the service, staff felt well supported. There was a strong team spirit and a desire to work together to ensure the best possible care for people.

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 24 September 2018) and there were three breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. However, there were still areas that required further improvement and the service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last four consecutive inspections.