The Lodge

Overall, people received safe, caring and effective support. The provider had made clear improvements since the last inspection, particularly in addressing previous safety concerns. The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to good governance. Further work was required to ensure improvements were consistently embedded and sustained.

The quality of care had improved since the last inspection, particularly in relation to safety. At the previous inspection, the provider was in breach of the legal regulation in relation to risk management and medicines systems. At this inspection, systems were in place to assess and manage risks, and people generally received their medicines safely. Staff demonstrated good knowledge of people’s needs, and care was delivered in a safe and responsive way. This showed the provider had taken action to address previous concerns and improve the delivery of safe care and treatment.

People were supported by kind and attentive staff who understood their needs and preferences. Observations and feedback indicated people were treated with dignity and respect, and staff responded promptly to requests for support. Partnership working with health professionals had improved, with staff seeking advice appropriately and responding to changes in people’s needs.

However, improvements were not yet fully embedded. While care was generally delivered safely and effectively, this was not always supported by accurate and consistent documentation. Care plans, risk assessments and monitoring records did not always reflect people’s current needs or the care being delivered.

Governance and oversight systems were not always effective. Although audits and monitoring processes were in place, and had improved since our last inspection, they had not identified all the issues found during this inspection, including inconsistencies in care planning, medicines monitoring and record keeping. This demonstrated that systems to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service were not operating as effectively as they could.