Background to this inspection
Updated
17 January 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector, a specialist nurse advisor and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Amber Lodge Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the CQC. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced on the 11 December 2019 and the provider was informed we would be returning on 12 December 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed the information we had about the service which included any notifications that had been sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We sought feedback from the local authority, the NHS clinical commissioning group and professionals who work with the service.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 10 people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 14 members of staff including nursing and care staff, support staff, the manager and registered manager. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
We looked at the care records of four people who used the service, medicine records, staff recruitment files, and quality assurance and safeguarding information.
Updated
17 January 2020
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.