Arnside Lodge

Updated 30 August 2023

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

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and 1 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

Arnside Lodge 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. Arnside Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

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 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

The inspection was carried out by conducting a site visit and speaking to staff remotely. We spoke with 7 people who used the service and 4 of their relatives/ friends about their experiences of the care provided. We spoke with 13 staff including the finance and operations director, the registered manager, team leader, senior care staff, care staff and housekeeping staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people’s care records. We looked at multiple medicines records. We reviewed 4 staff recruitment records. A range of records relating to the management of the service, including health and safety records, accident and incident records, staff training records, quality assurance checks and a sample of the provider’s policies and procedures were also reviewed.

Updated 30 August 2023

About the service

Arnside Lodge is a care home providing personal care for up to 32 people. At the time of our inspection 28 people were living at the service. The service provides support to older people and people living with dementia and or mental health needs.

Arnside Lodge accommodates people in one adapted building over 2 floors. The service has a secure garden and patio area.

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

Whilst people’s felt safe and supported living at the service, the provider’s systems did not always ensure people received high quality care and support. The provider’s quality assurance systems were not fully developed to identify issues in the service and drive improvement. The provider’s systems had not identified issues we found on inspection, including with health and safety checks and staff training. The registered manager and provider did not always understand their regulatory roles and responsibilities. This put people at risk.

People were not always 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 always support this practice. We have made a recommendation about person-centred care.

Although people were supported by staff who knew how to respond appropriately in the event of accidents and incidents, the provider’s systems for learning lessons were not robust.

People were supported by staff who been recruited following safe recruitment processes. People’s medicines were managed appropriately. People were not always supported by staff who had received training relevant to their roles and people’s care and support needs.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 21 April 2021).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. Whilst, we found some improvements had been made, the provider remained in breach of regulations.

At our last inspection we recommended that the provider review accident and incident processes and learning following these. At this inspection we found the provider had not made improvements.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of Safe and Well-led only.

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.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has remained requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Safe and Well-led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Arnside Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to good governance at this inspection.

We have made a recommendation about person-centred care.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.