Foxearth Lodge Nursing Home

Updated 25 March 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors, and an Expert by Experience who made telephone calls to people. 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

Foxearth Lodge Nursing Home a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

The service had a COVID outbreak, and the site visits were undertaken over two days. Some documentation was reviewed remotely.

We spoke with three people who used the service and 15 relatives. We spoke with 12 members of staff including the registered manager, care and nursing staff. We reviewed the care records for three people who used the service and the medicines administration records for 3 People. We observed the care and support provided and the environment was also assessed for safety, cleanliness, and suitability. Governance records were reviewed including 3 staff recruitment files, policies, quality assurance audits, maintenance records, risk assessments and training records.

Updated 25 March 2023

About the service

Foxearth Lodge Nursing Home is a residential care and nursing home, providing personal and nursing care to older people. There were 65 people living at the service at the time of our inspection, but they can support up to 67 people. The service has two units, Woodlands, for people living with dementia and Foxearth Barns which provides care and nursing care.

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

The service had enough staff to keep people safe.

Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Care staff were recruited safely.

Staff assessed risks people might face and took steps to reduce the likelihood of harm. The environment was well maintained, and systems were in place to check equipment to ensure it was safe.

Staff supported people to take their medicines safely and as prescribed.

Relatives told us that they were made feel very welcome when they visited their family members.

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.

People's care plans were detailed and informative and reflected their needs. Relatives had not been actively involved in care reviews and some told us that communication could be improved but this had already been identified and there were plans to address this.

Staff enabled people to access health and social care support. They supported people to eat and drink in line with their preferences. We have made a recommendation about the deployment of staff at mealtimes.

Drinks and snacks were provided in the evening, but the registered manager agreed to review this to ensure that people had access and take up was being recorded.

People felt able to raise concerns and were confident they would be listened to and action taken. People had access to a range of activities and social opportunities.

The provider had a range of systems in place to ascertain the views of people, relatives and staff. This included resident meetings and satisfaction surveys.

Regular audits were undertaken, and the provider reviewed data relating to quality indicators such as falls, incidents, complaints and safeguarding matters.

Feedback from relatives, people using the service and staff was the service was well managed and the registered manager was approachable and helpful.

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

Rating at last inspection

There has been a change of provider at this service. The new provider was registered with us on 31 January 2022, and this is the first inspection since the change in ownership.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as there had been a change in ownership of the service. We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.