The Ark Care Lodge Limited

Date of assessment: 12 to 15 November 2024.The service is a residential care home providing support to people who have a learning disability and autistic people. We have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. At the time of the assessment there were 16 people using the service. At our last inspection we identified breaches of regulations in relation to person centred care, safe care and treatment, staffing and good governance. At this assessment, improvements had been made or were in progress and the provider was no longer in breach of these regulations. However, further improvements were needed to ensure quality assurance systems were fully effective in improving and developing the service in a timely way. Timely action had not always been taken in response to environmental risks, though these were immediately addressed during our assessment site visits. Further improvements were also needed to medicine processes, although people received sufficient support to take their medicines as prescribed. Staff worked in ways to maintain people’s safety whilst supporting them to take positive risks. Safeguarding processes were robust and all staff understood their role in protecting people from harm. Staff had established effective communication with people and enabled their voices to be heard in all aspects of their care planning. Staff received guidance and support to provide personalised care for each person and this was reflected in individual care plans and records. Staff spent time engaging in meaningful interactions with people which resulted in positive outcomes for people’s health and well being. There was a positive, open culture where equality and diversity was encouraged and respected.