Amber Lodge Nursing Home

Updated 8 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 18 January 2022 and was unannounced.

Updated 8 February 2022

About the service

Amber Lodge Nursing Home is a care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 40 older people and people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 37 people living at the home.

The home accommodates people in one adapted building with facilities on two separate floors.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were supported to eat and drink enough, and staff supported people to live healthier lives and access healthcare services. However, the meal time experience could be improved to ensure a more social and conducive atmosphere is achieved and consistent records kept about people’s food and fluid intake.

People were encouraged to personalise their rooms. We have made a recommendation about developing a more dementia friendly environment.

People were treated with respect. Staff provided care and support in a caring and meaningful way. They knew the people who used the service well and had built up kind and compassionate relationships with them.

People were cared for safely. Any risks to their care were assessed and measures put in place to mitigate identified risks. The home was clean, and staff ensured people were protected from abuse or harm.

Visitors were welcome at any time. Staff were trained and were supported to fulfil their roles.

People could be assured they were cared for by staff who had been recruited using safe recruitment procedures.

There were activities for people to participate if they wished. People and relatives, where appropriate, were involved in the planning of their care and support. Care plans reflected people’s individual needs and guided staff to provide consistent care. Families expressed how well they and their loved-one had been supported at the end of their life.

People’s privacy and dignity was maintained. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

There were systems in place to manage the quality of the service and drive improvements. People's feedback was sought and acted upon, and staff were valued.

People and staff were confident if they had a complaint they would be listened to and action taken to address the issue.

There was an open culture and ideas to develop and improve the service were welcomed.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 20 December 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.