Nelson 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.

Nelson Lodge accommodates up to 64 people. There were 26 people using the service when we inspected in one adapted building, with bedrooms arranged over two floors and a number of communal areas.

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This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on the 1 March 2018. This is the first inspection since the provider registered this location with the Care Quality Commission in March 2017.

This service requires a registered manager as a condition of its registration. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. There was a registered manager in post who had been managing the service since its registration in March 2017.

People were kept safe and staff were knowledgeable about reporting any incidents of harm.

People were looked after by enough staff to support them with their individual needs. Pre-employment checks were completed on staff before they were assessed to be suitable to look after people who used the service. People were looked after by staff who were trained and supported to do their job.

The provider had systems in place which assessed potential risks to people and guidance was put in place to minimise the risks.

People were supported to take their medicines by staff who were trained and had been assessed to be competent to administer medicines.

Staff were able to demonstrate their understanding of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS); these provide legal safeguards for people who may be unable to make their own decisions.

People were supported or cared for by kind, respectful staff who enabled them to make choices about how they wanted to live. People participated in a range of activities within the service or in the community.

People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts of food and drink. They were also supported to access health care services and their individual health and nutritional needs were met.

Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and had been produced jointly by staff and people living in the service. People and or their relatives had agreed and were fully involved in making decisions about their care and support.

People and their relatives were given opportunities, such as written questionnaires and meetings, to give their views about the service and how it could be improved. There was a process in place so that people’s concerns and complaints were listened to and were acted upon.

The home had strong links with the local community.

There were clear management arrangements in place. Staff, people and their relatives were able to make suggestions and actions were taken as a result. Quality monitoring procedures were in place and action was taken where improvements were identified.