Background to this inspection
Updated
18 November 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector
Service and service type
Mill Lodge Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with CQC; the registered manager was also a director. 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.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service, including information from the provider about important events that had taken place at the service, which they are required to send us. We considered feedback from the local authority including the safeguarding team and professionals who work with and visit the service.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We observed how staff provided support for people to help us better understand their experiences of the care they received. We spoke with six people living in the home, the registered manager and the assistant manager. We looked at feedback provided from a recent (July 2021) survey completed by people who live in the home, relatives and visiting health and social care professionals.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records, six medication records and two staff recruitment records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed. We walked around the service to observe the environment.
After the inspection
We spoke with three relatives and three care staff on the telephone. We requested feedback from a healthcare professional. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to confirm evidence found. We looked at records sent to us after the inspection.
Updated
18 November 2021
About the service
Mill Lodge Residential Care Home provides personal care and support for up to 16 people aged 65 and over, some of whom are living with dementia. The service does not provide nursing care. Mill Lodge Residential Care Home is a residential care home situated on the outskirts of Great Harwood, Lancashire. There were 14 people living in the home at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe and were happy with the service they received. They said staff were kind and they were treated well. Staff understood how to protect people from abuse and recruitment processes ensured new staff were suitable. We discussed improving the processes around the use of agency staff. There were enough staff to meet people's needs and to ensure their safety; additional staff were being recruited. People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who had been trained and had their competency checked. Risk assessments enabled people to retain their independence. Infection control was well managed, and the home was clean and free from hazards. Improvements were being made inside and outside the home; there was a plan to support this.
Management and staff had developed friendly, caring and respectful relationships with people and their families. People were treated as individuals which helped protect their dignity. People's equality and diversity was respected and care was tailored to their needs, routines and preferences. Staff knew people well. Safe visiting processes were in place to ensure people could see their visitors and could maintain relationships that were important to them. People spoken with, did not have any complaints about the service but were confident they could raise any issues.
People were happy with the way the service was managed and staff told us they enjoyed working at the home. The systems to assess and monitor the quality of the service and the practice of staff, had improved. Appropriate action was taken when shortfalls were noted. The management of records relating to people's care and to the management of the home had improved. People’s views and opinions of the service were sought and acted on.
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 21 May 2021).
At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
We carried out an unannounced focused inspection of this service on 29 and 30 April 2021. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment and good governance.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Mill Lodge Residential Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.