About the service: Normanton Lodge Care Home provides accommodation for up to 43 people requiring personal care and is based in South Normanton in Derbyshire. At the time of our inspection there were 37 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service: People were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff knew how to recognise, and report abuse if required. Risks associated with people’s care were identified and actions taken to minimise risks occurring. Accidents and incidents were monitored to ensure any trends and patterns were identified and addressed. The service had sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs. There was a safe recruitment process in place. We completed a tour of the home with the registered manager and identified some areas which required attention. These areas were immediately attended to.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff received training and support to carry out their role. Healthcare professionals were involved in people’s care where appropriate and their advice was adhered to. People had access to an outside space, although this was restricted at the time of our inspection, due to building works taking place in the grounds of the home.

During our inspection we spent time observing staff interacting with people. We found staff were kind and caring and supported people in line with their individual needs.

People received person centred care which met their needs and took in to consideration their preferences. The provider employed an activity co-ordinator and people enjoyed participating in social events. The provider had a complaints procedure which was available to people. The registered manager kept a log of concerns and complaints and the procedure was followed when needed.

A management team supported the staff and ensured people received appropriate care. Staff we spoke with felt supported by the management team and felt valued. Audits were in place to identify areas which required attention and action plans were devised as needed. People we spoke with told us the home was managed well and had confidence they could approach staff and management if they needed to.

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 17 November 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

This inspection took place on 4 October 2016 and was unannounced.

A registered manager was in place at the time of this inspection. 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.

The service is registered to provide nursing and residential care for up to 43 people, including some people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection 38 people were using the service.

Staff knew and understood people and paid particular attention to people so that they received responsive and personalised care. People were supported to engage in enjoyable interests and activities. The environment was used in a way to help orientate people living with dementia. People were asked for their views and people knew how to raise concerns or make suggestions. The provider had taken steps to ensure suggestions could be made through their website, in addition to, for example, speaking with staff or using the complaints procedure.

People were supported by staff who were friendly, kind and caring. People’s choices and decisions were respected. Care and support was provided in a way that respected people’s privacy and dignity. People’s independence was supported.

The provider had taken steps to make sure people were cared for safely. Sufficient numbers of staff were deployed to meet people’s needs. Any risks to people were identified and assessed and monitored. Medicines were safely stored and administered safely.

Staff checked with people that they consented to their care and support before this was provided. Policies and procedures were in place to ensure the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 were followed. Applications for assessments using the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) had been made when required. Staff understood how the principles of the MCA related to the services delivered.

People were supported to enjoy mealtimes and received sufficient food and drink that met their nutritional needs. Staff were supported through supervision and training and demonstrated knowledge of people’s needs. Staff received training in areas that were relevant to the needs of people using the service. Staff were inspired by the training in dementia care and showed they understood this and applied it to their role. People were supported to access other health care services as required.

The registered manager was viewed as being open and approachable and involved in the day to day management of the service. The registered manager was supported in their leadership by motivated and supportive staff. Records were well maintained and checks on the quality and safety of services were completed.

We spoke with seven people who lived at the home. One person said, "This is a lovely home and I'm very happy." Another person said, "The staff treat us very well". All of the people we spoke with echoed these comments and spoke very highly of the staff team. Nobody we spoke with had any complaints. All of the interactions we saw between staff and people living at the home were appropriate, respectful, helpful and friendly.

The bedrooms were personalised to the people who lived at the home, with lots of their personal effects and family photographs on display. The accommodation was appropriately designed and suitable to meet the needs of the people living there and there was an ongoing plan in place for necessary replacements and renovations.

We saw that support plans and risk assessments were informative and up to date. Staff were aware of their contents, which enabled them to deliver appropriate and safe care. The provider had systems in place that ensured the safe receipt, storage, administration and recording of medicines. Staff recruitment and induction systems were robust.

There were 33 people living at Normanton Lodge at the time of our visit, including two people receiving respite care. We spoke with five people during our visit. Everyone told us they were happy at Normanton Lodge and enjoyed the entertainment.

We found that people had access to a number of different activities and outings. There were photographs displayed from a visit to a local garden centre and from a ‘sing-a-long’ activity with an entertainer who had visited the month prior to our visit.

People’s needs were assessed prior to them moving to the home and were reviewed again within 48 hours of moving in to ensure they were safe.

There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Appropriate cleaning schedules were in place for all areas of the home. A number of floors throughout the building had recently been replaced, including bathrooms and living / dining rooms.