Fountain Lodge Care Home Limited

Updated 6 April 2022

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 completed by an inspector, a specialist nursing 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

Fountain Lodge Care Home is 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. Fountain Lodge Care Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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

We spoke with four people who lived at the home and observed staff interacting with people. We spoke with five relatives and two health and social work professionals who were vising the service during our inspection. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, nursing and care staff and the chef. We looked at documentation relating to five people’s care including how their medicines were managed and administered. We reviewed four staff files and records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 6 April 2022

About the service

Fountain Lodge Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care and treatment of disease, disorder or injury . The service provides support to older and younger adults with a range of needs including people who have physical disabilities, dementia or support with their mental health. Fountain Lodge accommodates up to 30 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people living at the service.

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

People received safe care and support because systems for assessing and managing risk were robust and staff knew how to safeguard people. Care plans included up to date and comprehensive individual risk assessments which gave staff the information they needed to maintain people's safety. Clear processes were in place to prevent and control infection within the home. The provider had been proactive in following government and local guidance in relation to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Systems for recruitment of new staff were safe. Staffing was well organised and was appropriate to the needs of people using the service.

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 . Staff received the training and support they needed to care for and support people safely and effectively. People's nutritional needs and preferences were assessed, and plans put in place to make sure they were met.

Staff were kind and caring. There was good interaction between staff and people who live at the home. There was evidence of people's and relatives' involvement in the care planning. Reviews were undertaken regularly. People's dignity and privacy was respected.

The provider assessed peoples' needs before they began to use the service and regular reviews took place to make sure care plans reflected people's current needs. People were supported by a range of health and social care professionals to maintain their overall health and wellbeing.

Changes in management systems had been effective in improving quality assurance systems. Analysis of accidents and incidents enabled the provider to learn lessons from previous events and implement positive change.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 28 July 2021) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an initial action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. The provider then sent us monthly updates about what actions had been taken. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since 28 July 2021. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

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.