Arlington House Residential Care Home

Updated 9 December 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 11 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 9 December 2020

About the service

Arlington House is a care home providing personal care for up to 27 people in one adapted building over two floors. The service was supporting 26 people at the time of this inspection.

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

We have made recommendations about the management of risk, monitoring and the oversight of the implementation of the Mental Capacity Act.

We have made a recommendation about the management of risk. Although staff were aware of risks to people, no assessment had been completed for the use of a particular piece of equipment. The registered manager was in the process of reviewing people’s care planning records to ensure that they contained up to date information.

We have made a recommendation about recording consent. Although 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 did not fully support this practice. The registered manager was in the process of reviewing people’s records in relation to their mental capacity to ensure they contained up to date information.

People felt safe using the service and were protected from abuse and the risk of abuse. Medicines were safely managed and people received them on time. Safe recruitment practices were followed. Infection control practices were followed to minimise the risk of the spread of infection and regular safety checks were carried out on the environment and equipment.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service that people received.

People's needs and choices were assessed prior to moving into the service. People received care and support from experienced staff who received the right training and supported for their role. People were supported to have a nutritious and balanced diet and their healthcare needs were met.

People, their family members and friends were happy with the service provided at Arlington House and positive relationships had been formed with the staff delivering care and support. People were able to voice their views and they felt they were listened to.

Staff knew people well and were knowledgeable about their individual needs and how they were to be met. People and their family members had access to information about how to make a complaint about the service.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service that people received. People were engaged and involved with changes within the service. The provider sought information and guidance from other agencies and regulators to continually develop the service.

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 good (published 25 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.