Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of Freda Gunton Lodge Residential Home following an inspection. It assesses how well the service is run across five key areas: safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness, and leadership. The findings are based on observations, discussions with residents, staff, and visiting professionals, as well as a review of care records and other relevant documentation.

On safety, residents are protected from harm, with trained staff managing medicines effectively. Risk assessments are in place, and while some aspects like risk assessment updates are being transitioned to a new electronic system, residents' safety is assured. Fire procedures are practiced and equipment is regularly checked. The home is clean and well-equipped to prevent infections. While some formal consents for monitoring equipment were initially missing, the provider acted quickly to address this.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents' health and wellbeing needs are met by sufficient, well-trained staff who know them well. People receive personalised care plans, with good choices available for food and dining times to suit individual preferences. Staff receive comprehensive training and professional development, and appropriate referrals are made to specialist teams when needed. The home is adapted to support older residents, though it has not implemented specific dementia-friendly design features.

The care provided is consistently compassionate and respectful. Residents feel they enjoy living at Freda Gunton Lodge and are actively involved in decisions about their care. They are supported to maintain independence, with dedicated keyworkers fostering strong personal relationships. The home actively promotes social engagement through events and community links, ensuring residents' dignity and privacy are paramount.

Regarding how responsive the service is, residents' needs are met through good organisation and delivery of care. Care plans are personalised and take into account individual choices and preferences. Communication is effective, with daily records and handovers ensuring all staff are informed of any changes. The home actively seeks feedback from residents and their families, and complaints are addressed with steps taken to improve practice where necessary. End-of-life care is well-integrated into the service.

However, concerning the leadership, the service requires improvement. While monitoring tools are in place to review paperwork and learn from concerns, these did not always identify where specific actions were needed. Although audits are conducted by the provider's area team, there's an indication that these could be more effective in identifying areas for improvement. Staff generally feel valued and enjoy working at the home, but the oversight mechanisms for continuous improvement need further development to ensure all aspects of the service consistently meet the highest standards.