This comprehensive unannounced inspection was carried out on 14 August 2018. This was our first inspection of the service since it was registered with the Care Quality Commission in September 2017.

Ambika Lodge Care Home 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.

Ambika Lodge Care Home is registered to support up to 21 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. On the day of our inspection, 12 people were being supported and one person was in hospital.

The service required, and did have, a registered manager. 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.

People and their relatives told us the home was a safe place to live. Risks to people were appropriately assessed, managed and reviewed. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults from abuse and understood their responsibilities and the actions they should take if concerns were identified. Safe recruitment systems were in place to ensure new staff were safe to work with vulnerable adults. There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet the care and support needs of people. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. There were safe processes in place to minimise the risks from the spread of infection.

Staff felt valued and spoke highly about the support they received; this included the training and guidance they needed to enable them to fulfil their role and responsibilities. People had sufficient food and drink and were provided with choices at mealtimes. Where required, people were supported to access health care services to maintain their health and well-being. Although people were supported to have choice and control over their lives and there were systems and policies in place to support this, we have recommended that the registered provider reviews legislation and associated guidance to ensure they are acting in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were treated with warmth, compassion and respect. Staff knew people well and were sensitive to their needs. People's independence was promoted and people were encouraged to do as much as they could for themselves. People were treated with dignity and respect and staff ensured people's privacy was maintained at all times.

People received a responsive service. Care plans were person centred and reviewed regularly to ensure they reflected people's current care and support needs. People’s and relatives’ involvement and feedback on the service was actively encouraged. The registered provider employed an activities coordinator who supported people to participate in group and/or one to one activities. Information on how to raise concerns or complaints was available, and people and their relatives were confident any concerns would be listened to and acted upon.

People, relatives, staff and health care professionals spoke positively about the registered manager who was committed to providing good quality care. There were systems in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service. The registered manager was able to demonstrate how they analysed the care and support provided to people to ensure the service was operating safely and was continually improving to meet people's needs.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.