Cedar lodge provides accommodation and personal care for up to 19 people. On the day of our inspection there were 18 people living at the home.

The inspection took place on the 28 December 2016 and was unannounced.

There was a registered manager at this home. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered providers and registered managers 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.

Staff we spoke with were aware of how to recognise signs of abuse, and systems were in place to guide them in reporting these. They were knowledgeable about how to manage people’s individual risks, and were able to respond to people’s needs. People told us they were supported in a safe way and had their medicines as prescribed. The registered manager had identified medicines records were not always completed and was taking steps to support staff to improve this.

People told us staff knew how to support them. Relatives said staff were well trained. Staff had up to date knowledge and training to support people. Staff respected people's rights to make their own decisions and choices about their support. People's permission was sought by staff before they helped them with anything. Staff made sure people understood what was being said to them by using appropriate communication methods. When people did not have the capacity to make their own specific decisions these were made in their best interests by people who knew them well and were authorised to do this.

People had food and drink they enjoyed and had choices available to them, to maintain a healthy diet. People said they had access to health professionals when they needed to. Relatives were confident their family member was supported to maintain their well-being and had access to the health professionals they needed.

People said they were happy living at the home and supported by patient and kind staff. Relatives told us they were happy with the service their family member received. They told us staff were patient and promoted independence. People living at the home were able to see their friends and relatives as they wanted. We saw staff treated people with dignity and respect and had a good knowledge of people’s rights. They knew people well, and took people’s preferences into account and respected them.

People and their relatives were included in how care was provided. They knew how to raise complaints and felt confident that they would be listened to and action taken to resolve any concerns. The registered manager had arrangements in place to ensure people were listened to and action could be taken if required.

The registered manager promoted an inclusive approach to providing care for people living at the home. For example people and their relatives were encouraged to attend regular meetings, and to complete questionnaires to share their views about the quality of the service. The management team had actioned suggestions made by people, their families and staff where possible, and took a proactive approach making improvements.

The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of care and treatment people living at the home received. The registered manager had identified where improvements were needed and had a plan in place to ensure these were made in a timely way.