The Care Quality Commission
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  • Care home

Archived: Ladysmith Care Home

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Ladysmith Road, Grimsby, South Humberside, DN32 9ND (01472) 254710

Provided and run by:
Knights Care Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile
Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

All Inspections

6 January 2017

During a routine inspection

This unannounced inspection was undertaken on 6 January 2017 by two adult social care inspectors. The service was last inspected on 1 June 2015 and it was found to be compliant with the regulations that we looked at and an overall quality rating of ‘requires improvement’ was awarded.

Ladysmith Care Home is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide accommodation for up to ninety people who require nursing or personal care. The service can provide support to people who are living with dementia, older people and younger adults. There are four separate units, two units on the ground and two on the first floor. The units on the ground floor, (Heather and Lavender) provide residential and dementia care. Those on the first floor (Iris and Orchid) provide care to people living with dementia. There is a car park for visitors to use. Staff are available 24 hours a day to support people.

This service had 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 the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We found there were shortfalls, mainly on the first floor. We found issues with recording of topical creams and one person’s eye drops were in use after they should have been discarded. Care plans needed to have clearer information for staff about the care to be given in people’s best interests. One person’s care records needed reviewing regarding their pressure area care and a care plan was required for a condition they were receiving treatment for. Supplementary charts about people’s food and fluid intake needed to be filled in when food and drink was offered to people. One person’s slippers were ill fitting and may have posed a trip hazard. All these issues were discussed with the registered manager who addressed them during our inspection. Auditing in these areas needed to be improved and this was implemented following our inspection.

We have made a recommendation about a shortfall that we found regarding medicines.

Staff received training about protecting people from harm and abuse. Safeguarding issues were reported to the local authority and CQC.

We observed the staffing levels provided on the day of our inspection were adequate to meet people’s needs. Staff received training, supervision and appraisals which helped to support them and develop their skills.

Visiting health care professionals told us staff contacted them to discuss any changes in people’s conditions or concerns they may have and that staff followed their guidance, which helped to maintain people’s wellbeing.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed and monitored and their preferences and special dietary needs were catered for. Staff encouraged and assisted people to eat and drink, where necessary. Advice was gained from health care professionals to ensure people’s nutritional needs were met.

Staff supported people to make decisions for themselves. People chose how and where to spend their time. Staff reworded questions to help people living with dementia understand what was being said.

Activities were provided and visiting was encouraged at any time. People visiting the service were made welcome.

A programme of redecoration and refurbishment was in progress and the gardens had been improved. This enhanced the facilities that were provided for people. Pictorial signage was in place to help people living with dementia find bathrooms, toilets and their own room. General maintenance occurred and service contracts were in place to maintain the environment and equipment in use.

A complaints procedure was in place. This was explained to people living with dementia or to their relatives so that they were informed. People living at the service, their relatives and staff were asked for their views. Feedback received was acted upon. This helped the management team to maintain or improve the service provided.

The registered manager undertook a variety of audits to help them monitor the quality of the service. However, the issues we found regarding people’s care records, prescribed topical creams and eye drops and best interest information at the time of our inspection had not been identified by the auditing process in place. The registered manager took action to address the shortfalls we found during our inspection. They supplied us with an action plan which they put in place to make sure the issues we found would not occur again.

28, 29 May and 1 June 2015.

During a routine inspection

This inspection was undertaken on 28, 29 May and 1 June 2015 and was unannounced. This was the first inspection of this service under this registered provider.

Ladysmith Care Home is registered with the Care Quality Commission [CQC] to provide accommodation for up to ninety people who require nursing or personal care. The service can provide support to people who are living with dementia, older people and younger adults. There are five separate units, two units on the ground and three on the second floor. The units on the ground floor provide residential care. Those on the second floor provide care to people living with dementia and a short stay assessment unit. There is a car park for visitors to use. Staff are available 24 hours a day to support people.

This service has 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 the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff understood how to protect people from harm and abuse. They knew how to report abuse and told us they would report issues to the manager and the local authority, or directly to the Care Quality Commission.

Staffing levels within the service were increased during the inspection process. We observed that the staff were very busy and were under pressure. This was discussed with the registered provider and registered manager and they immediately took action to increase the staffing levels throughout the service from 1 June 2015.

Some people’s care records did not reflect their full and current needs. The registered provider was aware that people’s care records needed to be updated and reviewed and this process had commenced for everyone living at the service. People’s care needs were being transferred to the new providers care records and a full review of everyone’s care was in progress. Extra staff were being brought in to complete the reviews by the end of August 2015. We have asked the registered provider to complete this transfer and assessment process within these dates.

Staff knew people’s needs well and were aware of risks to their health and wellbeing. Staff placed their emphasis on providing care and support to people.

Training was provided for staff in a variety of subjects, supervision was in place and appraisals were being scheduled. This helped to support the staff and maintain and develop their skills.

People were provided with home cooked food, the meal time experience provided for people was being reviewed to see if it could be improved. People’s food and fluid intake was monitored, where this was necessary to maintain people’s health. People were prompted or assisted with meals and drinks by patient and attentive staff who understood people’s dietary needs and preferences.

Visiting health care professionals told us that staff contacted them in a timely way and acted upon their advice to promote people’s wellbeing.

Pictorial signage was in place throughout the service which helped people find their way around. People’s bedrooms were personalised to their needs. Refurbishment plans were in place for the whole building. This work was to be carried out in stages to redecorate and replace worn furniture and carpets. The building was maintained and service contracts were in place. There had been issues with one passenger lift, this was being addressed.

People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff. People made decisions about how they wished to live, where they could. People were asked by staff about the support they wanted to receive. Staff supported people to decide what they wanted to do and how they wished to spend their time.

There was a complaints procedure in place. The registered manager undertook regular audits covering all aspects of the service. There were plans in place to change the care documentation, review the mealtime experience for people and continue to review the staffing levels provided.

People’s views were asked for by the registered manager, registered provider and staff. Information received was reviewed by the management team to help them to develop or improve the service provided.

We have made recommendations in this report for the registered provider to consider in relation to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and re-writing and reviewing people’s care records.