Eric Morecambe House

Updated 25 November 2020

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

This inspection took place on 10 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 25 November 2020

Eric Morecambe House is situated in a residential area of Torrisholme near to local shops and close to public transport links to both Lancaster and Morecambe. The building is arranged over three floors, with bedrooms and communal rooms on the first and second floors. The home provides care for older people who have physical frailty. There is a passenger lift and stair case providing access to the upper floors. Private car parking facilities are available for people visiting. At the time of our inspection visit there were 36 people who lived at the home.

At the last inspection carried out on 26 February 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.

People who lived at the home and their visitors told us they were very happy with the care provided at the home and staff were caring and compassionate. They told us staff were very kind and attentive and spent quality time with them. People visiting their relatives told us they were very happy with the care being provided. They told us staff were always polite and willing to listen if they had a problem.

A visiting healthcare professional told us they felt the service provided very good care. They were impressed with the knowledge and dedication of staff with their attention to end of life care.

Throughout the inspection we observed staff being kind and attentive to people in their care. We saw they were caring, patient and engaged people in conversation whilst providing their support.

People told us they felt safe in the care of staff who supported them. We saw staff were always in attendance and available when people needed their help.

Procedures were in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.

Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs.

The service had sufficient staffing levels in place to provide support people required. We saw staff showed concern for people’s wellbeing and responded quickly when people required their help.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. Medication procedures observed protected people from unsafe management of their medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed and when needed and appropriate records had been completed.

We saw there was an emphasis on promoting dignity, respect and independence for people who lived at the home. People told us staff treated them as individuals and delivered person centred care.

We observed the daily routines and practices within the home and found people were treated equally and their human rights were constantly being respected.

The design of the building was appropriate for the care and support provided. We found facilities and equipment had been serviced and maintained as required to ensure the home was a safe place for people to live.

The service had safe infection control procedures in place. People who lived at the home told us they were happy with the standard of hygiene in place.

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 care and support had been planned with them and was person centred. They told us they had been consulted and listened to about how their care would be delivered.

Care plans were organised and had identified care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received.

People told us they were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. Meal times were relaxed and well managed. People who required assistance with their meal were supported patiently by staff.

People were supported to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met.

People told us staff were caring towards them. Staff we spoke with understood the importance of high standards of care to give people meaningful lives.

The service had information with regards to support from an external advocate should this be required by people they supported.

People told us staff who supported them always treated them with respect and dignity.

The service had a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family when they commenced using the service. The people we spoke with told us they were happy with the service and had no complaints.

People who lived at the home told us they enjoyed a variety of activities which were organised for their entertainment.

The service used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits, resident meetings and satisfaction surveys to seek their views about the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below