Background to this inspection
Updated
2 June 2018
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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.’
The Inspection took place on the 13 December 2017 and 9 January 2018 and was unannounced.
The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an expert by experience on day one. An expert- by- experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. In this case the expert by experience had experience of people with a learning disability. On the second day the inspection team consisted of two inspectors.
Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the provider such as notifications and any information people had shared with us. We also spoke with the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams to ask them for their views on the service and whether they had any concerns. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. There were no concerns highlighted from the information provided.
During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, nine people who lived at the home, three relatives by telephone, four care workers and the cook.
During our visit to the care home we looked at four care records of people who used the service, three staff recruitment files, training records, medicines records and other records relating to the day to day running of the service.
We observed people being cared for and supported in the communal areas and observed the meal service at breakfast and lunch. We looked around the home at a selection of bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets and the communal rooms.
Updated
2 June 2018
The inspection was carried out on 13 December 2017 and 9 January 2018 and was unannounced. We last inspected this service in August 2016 we found the service was in breach of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. At this inspection we found no improvements had been made to the governance and quality assurance systems in place which enable the service to identify and improve where quality and safety was being compromised.
The service had a registered manager. 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.
Walmer Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Walmer Lodge accommodates 12 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people living there.
People told us they felt safe. However we found the correct safeguarding reporting procedures were not always followed. Staff were aware of the actions they would take to keep people safe however they had not received the appropriate training in safeguarding vulnerable adults.
Overall risks to people’s health, safety and welfare were identified and action taken to manage the risk. Staff demonstrated a sound awareness of infection control procedures.
There was enough staff deployed. All the required checks were done before new staff started work and this helped protect people.
Staff were not appropriately trained to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. However, staff did receive regular supervision and appraisal.
Medicines were managed safely. However, some improvements were needed to ensure a consistent approach. We recommended the provider reviews their medicines policies and procedures in line current guidance.
Most people told us they liked the food. People were offered a choice; however the variety of food was limited.
People had access to a wide range of healthcare professionals and we saw evidence people’s healthcare needs were met.
People were treated with respect and kindness and were supported to maintain their independence. However, improvements were required in relation to people being able to prepare their own snacks and drinks. People were given the opportunity to take part in a variety of social activities.
Information about complaints was displayed in the home. People told us the registered manager was approachable and listened to them. People were supported to share their views about the service, although views were not always taken into account.
People told us they would recommend the service and some people told us they had already done so. People had confidence in the management team.
We found the provider’s quality monitoring systems were not always working as well as they should be. We were assured of the provider's commitment to making the required improvements.
We found four breaches of regulations in relation to safeguarding service users from abuse and improper treatment, staffing, good governance and notification of other incidents. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.