Eaton Lodge Nursing Home

Updated 7 January 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 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 undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Eaton Lodge Nursing 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 did not have a manager registered with CQC. There was a manager in post who had started the process of registration. This means the provider is 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 since the last inspection. We sought feedback from professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the provider, manager, nurse, senior care workers and agency care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

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

Updated 7 January 2022

About the service

Eaton Lodge Nursing Home is a care home providing personal and nursing care to 21 older people some who may be living with dementia at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 24 people in one large adapted building.

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

People told us they felt safe and the staff were kind and caring towards them. Staff knew how to protect them from discrimination and abuse.

Potential risks to people’s health and welfare had been assessed. Staff were provided with guidance to mitigate the risks. People’s care plans had improved and now contained information about people’s choices and preferences. People told us they were supported in the way they preferred. People had been asked about their end of life wishes.

There were enough staff to support people safely, regular agency staff covered any shortages and knew people well. Staff had been recruited safely and checks were completed to make sure nurses had maintained their professional registration.

Medicines were managed safely, and people received them as prescribed. Accidents and incidents had been analysed and appropriate action had been taken to stop them happening again.

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.

The service was clean and hygienic. Staff were following government guidance and wearing appropriate personal protective equipment. People and staff were being tested for Covid-19 as required by national guidance.

A new manager was in post; they had started their registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Checks and audits had been completed. When shortfalls had been identified, an action plan had been put in place to make sure they were rectified.

People had been asked for their opinion about the service. Staff attended regular meetings and were asked for their opinions and suggestions. The manager had investigated complaints when they had been raised.

People were supported to maintain relationships with their friends and family. People were given information in a way they could understand.

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 19 September 2019). An IPC inspection was completed on 30 November 2020 (published 24 December 2020).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted by our data insight that assesses potential risks at services, including the previous rating of requires improvement.

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.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 5 August 2019. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve 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, Responsive 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 Eaton Lodge Nursing 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.