Chippendayle Lodge Residential Care Home

This report details an inspection of Chippendayle Lodge Residential Care Home conducted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2021. The inspection focused on the areas of safe, responsive, and well-led care, following up on concerns raised. Overall, the service was found to be consistently providing good care, with residents and their families expressing satisfaction with the staff's approach.

Regarding safety, residents and their relatives felt secure, with staff demonstrating a good understanding of safeguarding procedures and risk management. Measures were in place to prevent harm, and staff recruitment processes were thorough. Medicines were administered safely and stored appropriately. While infection control measures were robust, a fire drill conducted after the inspection confirmed that staff could muster quickly, with the manager ensuring adequate records of this procedure were maintained.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents received personalised support tailored to their individual needs and preferences. The service maintained good communication with families, particularly during the pandemic. While the provision of structured activities has reduced due to the pandemic and the absence of a dedicated activity coordinator, the home is actively seeking resident and family input to reintroduce engaging activities.

The caring aspect of the service is highlighted by strong feedback from residents and their families, who praised the staff's friendliness, professionalism, and genuine concern for residents' well-being, creating a home-from-home atmosphere.

Looking at responsiveness, the service was good at meeting residents' needs through effective organisation. Care plans captured individual preferences and personal histories, enabling staff to provide truly personalised care. Communication channels with relatives were strong, and the service actively sought feedback. Residents were supported to maintain connections with loved ones, and efforts were made to ensure information was accessible.

Finally, on how well-led the service is, the registered manager was consistently described as approachable and a visible presence, fostering a positive and person-centred culture. Systems were in place to monitor service quality through audits and checks. While the deputy manager role was temporarily absorbed by the registered manager, staff understood their responsibilities and worked effectively as a team. The service actively learned from incidents and worked to improve communication with staff and relatives.