Princes 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. Princes Lodge is a residential care home for five people with mental health needs. The home is located in the London Borough of Brent close to public transport and other amenities. The home is used as a step down facility with the aim of people moving to their own flat.

At the last inspection in December 2015, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The provider had robust systems, processes and practices to protect and safeguard people who used the service from abuse. Risks to people who used the service were assessed and monitored and management plans ensured and supported people to staff safe and life an independent life. Robust recruitment practices ensured that only staff suitable to support people to stay safe and meet their needs were employed. People were supported to administer their medicines with a view to self-administer safely in the future. The home was clean and free of offensive smells and staff followed safe infection control procedures. Accidents and incidents were recorded, monitored and assessed to ensure lessons were learned and improvements can be made when things go wrong.

People’s needs were assessed to ensure the home was able to meet people’s needs. The assessment and admission included an extended trial period for people and the service to decide if Princes Lodge was the right place. Staff were offered the opportunity to attend various training courses and were encouraged to gain further qualifications in Health and Social Care. People were mainly responsible for preparing their own meals, with some staff support as and when required. The service had excellent relationships with local mental health teams, which ensured peoples mental health improved and people gained the skill to move to more independent living. People lived in a well maintained and decorated home. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service did support this practice.

The registered manager and staff demonstrated genuine interest and concern in people’s well-being and daily life. They treated people with kindness and respect and offered support when people needed it. People who used the service were a central part of the service and were included in decisions made about their accommodation, care and treatment they received.

Care plans were person centred and were reviewed regularly with full input and participation of people who used the service. People who used the service knew how to raise concerns and felt supported by the registered manager in resolving any issues. The home did not provide end of life care.

The registered manager was part of the team and was hands on. Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of promoting people’s independence and empowering people to life a full live. People and staff spoke highly of the registered manager and told us that he was very supportive, caring and easy to talk to. The service had effective quality assurance systems in place, which ensured the quality of service was continuously improved.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

Princes 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. Princes Lodge is a residential care home for five people with mental health needs. The home is located in the London Borough of Brent close to public transport and other amenities. The home is used as a step down facility with the aim of people moving to their own flat.

At the last inspection in December 2015, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

The provider had robust systems, processes and practices to protect and safeguard people who used the service from abuse. Risks to people who used the service were assessed and monitored and management plans ensured and supported people to staff safe and life an independent life. Robust recruitment practices ensured that only staff suitable to support people to stay safe and meet their needs were employed. People were supported to administer their medicines with a view to self-administer safely in the future. The home was clean and free of offensive smells and staff followed safe infection control procedures. Accidents and incidents were recorded, monitored and assessed to ensure lessons were learned and improvements can be made when things go wrong.

People’s needs were assessed to ensure the home was able to meet people’s needs. The assessment and admission included an extended trial period for people and the service to decide if Princes Lodge was the right place. Staff were offered the opportunity to attend various training courses and were encouraged to gain further qualifications in Health and Social Care. People were mainly responsible for preparing their own meals, with some staff support as and when required. The service had excellent relationships with local mental health teams, which ensured peoples mental health improved and people gained the skill to move to more independent living. People lived in a well maintained and decorated home. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service did support this practice.

The registered manager and staff demonstrated genuine interest and concern in people’s well-being and daily life. They treated people with kindness and respect and offered support when people needed it. People who used the service were a central part of the service and were included in decisions made about their accommodation, care and treatment they received.

Care plans were person centred and were reviewed regularly with full input and participation of people who used the service. People who used the service knew how to raise concerns and felt supported by the registered manager in resolving any issues. The home did not provide end of life care.

The registered manager was part of the team and was hands on. Staff demonstrated a clear understanding of promoting people’s independence and empowering people to life a full live. People and staff spoke highly of the registered manager and told us that he was very supportive, caring and easy to talk to. The service had effective quality assurance systems in place, which ensured the quality of service was continuously improved.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

We spoke with three people who used the service, staff and some professionals who were also involved in people's care and support. People we spoke with were very positive about the service provided. One person who used the service told us "The level of care and support is above what we need". Another told us "I am supported to do what I want to do. My goal is to get my own place, and the staff are helping me to work towards it". A professional we spoke with told us "The care is very high standard. The guys are happy and getting the support they need".

We found that the provider took steps to ensure people were respected and involved in decisions about their care and support, and that care and support was planned and delivered to meet people's needs.

We saw that the service had a system in place to ensure people were protected from the risk of abuse, and that the premises were newly renovated, safe and suitable for people's needs.

We found that staff were appropriately checked before starting work, and that the provider had a system in place to gain and act upon people's feedback about the quality of the service they received.