Archived: Princess Lodge Care Centre

Updated 4 March 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 and to look at the overall quality of the service.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 30 and 31 January 2018. The first day was unannounced and the inspection team consisted of three inspectors 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. One inspector visited on 31 January 2018 to complete the inspection.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and the service provider. The registered provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law.

Throughout our inspection we spent time observing care at the service. We spoke to 16 people and 13 relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager, the nominated individual, the deputy manager, the clinical services manager, one nurse, one senior care assistant, one care assistant, the maintenance man, two activity coordinators and the chef.

We looked at records, which included, six people’s care and medication administration records (MAR). We checked recruitment, training and supervision records for five staff. We also looked at a range of records about how the service was managed. Following the inspection we contacted a number of external health and social care professionals and commissioners to obtain their views about the service.

Updated 4 March 2018

We inspected this service on 30 and 31 January 2018. Princess Lodge Care Centre is a residential setting which means people receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The service comprises of three floors, this includes a recently introduced designated end of life unit and a unit for people living with a dementia. Princess Lodge Care Centre is registered for up to 85 people. On the day of our inspection 61 people were living at the service.

At the last inspection in January 2016 the service was rated requires improvement in safe domain and rated Good overall.

At this inspection we found the service improved, was Good in all areas and rated as Good overall.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.

During our last inspection we found concerns around medicines stock control and that some of the topical medicines, cream, had no opening date recorded which meant it was not always clear whether these topical medications were still safe for use. At this inspection we found the provider addressed these concerns and the medicines were managed, stored and administered safely.

People remained safe at the service. Staff knew how to recognise safeguarding concerns and what to do if they suspected any abuse. The provider had relevant safeguarding policies and systems in place and the staff were familiar with the local authority’s safeguarding procedures.

Risk assessments were carried out to promote people’s well-being and recognise people’s individual abilities. The environment was clean and well maintained and staff adhered to infection control guidelines.

There were enough staff to keep people safe and people were assisted promptly and without unnecessary delay. The provider followed safe recruitment procedures. Staff were knowledgeable, skilled and had the relevant skills and experience. Records confirmed staff received regular supervision sessions and they told us they were well supported.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and report on what we find. 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 supported this practice. People’s rights to make their own decisions were respected.

People were supported to access health professionals when needed and staff worked closely with various external professionals to ensure people’s health needs were met. The service remained responsive to people's needs and ensured people’s changing needs were recognised and appropriate changes to support were implemented promptly. People knew how to complain but told us they never needed to as any small concerns were being addressed promptly.

The service continued to support people in a caring way. People were treated with kindness and as individuals. People were involved in decisions about their care needs and the support they received. People’s dignity, privacy and confidentiality were respected, and they received person centred care that included access to information that met their needs.

The service was well-led by an experienced and motivated registered manager who ensured staff put people at the forefront of the service delivery. There was an open and positive culture that valued and engaged people, relatives and staff. The registered manager had good systems to monitor the quality of the service provided and ensured new ideas were explored to sustain high standards. The service worked well with various external professionals who were very positive about how the service was run.