Archived: Aspen Lodge

Updated 1 January 2021

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.

We received information of concern about infection control and prevention measures at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. The inspection took place on 8 December 2020 and was unannounced.

Updated 1 January 2021

Aspen Lodge provides care and support for up to 25 older people, some of whom may be living with dementia. The ground floor has a large communal lounge, dining room and a small conservatory. Bedrooms are located on the ground and first floor which can be accessed by a lift. There is a small secure garden. At the time of our inspection the home was not fully occupied providing care and support to 20 people.

People’s experience of using this service

Staff were not always recruited safely and people told us staffing levels were not always consistent meaning their needs were not always met in a timely manner. Risks to people's safety and well-being were not always well managed and guidance from health and social care professionals was not always consistently followed. People were not always supported appropriately to meet their nutritional needs and to maintain a balanced diet ensuring their well-being. People’s meal time experience was not always a positive one. Quality monitoring systems in place were not always robust nor effective in driving service improvements.

People and their relatives spoke positively about the care and support they received from staff. During our inspection we observed staff had built positive respectful relationships with people. People told us they safe and supported. Safeguarding and whistleblowing policies and procedures were in place and staff were aware of how to keep people safe.

There were arrangements in place to manage medicines safely and staff followed appropriate infection control practices to prevent the spread of infections. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to support people appropriately. Staff were supported through induction, training and supervision.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People and their relatives were involved and consulted about their care and support needs. People had access to health and social care professionals as required. People were supported to access services and to participate in activities that met their needs.

Staff worked with people to promote their rights and understood the Equality Act 2010; supporting people appropriately addressing any protected characteristics. The service worked in partnership with health and social care professionals to ensure appropriate support was provided to individuals.

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

Rating at last inspection: Good (Report was published on 6 February 2017).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

At this inspection we rated the service as requires improvement. We identified a breach of regulation, in relation to staff recruitment and made several recommendations to the provider for areas that required improvement. Please refer to the end of the report for action we have told the provider to take.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. The service will be re-inspected as per our inspection programme. We will continue to monitor any information we receive about the service. We may bring the next inspection forward if we receive any concerning information.