The Lodge

The Lodge Trust is a Christian home and supports people to lead a Christian lifestyle. The service is situated amongst a substantial country park, some of which is accessible and used by the public. There are 6 different bungalows and houses across the site where people live. Some people lived in their own self-contained flats, whilst others had their own bedroom and ensuite and shared a dining room and living room area.

Right Support: 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; however, there was not always clear written guidance in place to support staff with this. Some people's specific health needs were not always assessed and documented. Some staff had not received mandatory training regarding supporting people living with learning disabilities and autism. People received their medicines as prescribed, but some audit processes required improvements to ensure any issues were identified in a timely manner. People were supported to engage in activities and interests and were able to personalise their bedrooms and living spaces as they wished.

Right Care: Systems and processes were not always effective to ensure safeguarding incidents were identified, investigated and referred to the appropriate agencies. This meant the opportunities to assess safety and take steps to mitigate risk were not always taken. Some people did not have specific health condition care plans in place such as mental health diagnoses. People were supported by staff who were passionate and committed to providing care in accordance with the Christian ethos of the service. Staff were caring and provided support to people with warmth, compassion and preserved their dignity. People were able to make choices and were involved in decisions about their care needs and lives. Staff worked closely with people and made referrals to health and social care professionals in a timely manner.

Right Culture:

Oversight of the service was not always consistent. We found areas of concern that had not been identified prior to our inspection. These included audits not efficiently identifying improvements required, and processes not always being effectively followed. People were encouraged to be independent, and staff listened to people's views. Staff formed good working relationships with people. Staff and management were open and transparent, and acted upon feedback to improve people's outcomes. Systems and processes to govern the service required improvement to ensure the areas of risk were identified, and improvements to drive quality care could be delivered.

Overall, the service was not always meeting 'right support, right care, right culture.' We are aware this is a large service supporting up to 30 people, and therefore is significantly larger than good practice guidance suggests.