Lakeside Care Home

Updated 14 December 2023

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 conducted by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Lakeside 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. Lakeside 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 the Care Quality Commission 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 were two registered managers.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 13 people living at the home and gained feedback from 6 relatives to gain their feedback on the service.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who may not be able comment directly on their care.

During the inspection, we spoke with 3 staff and the 2 registered managers. We gave staff an opportunity to respond to us by e-mail, and we received 9 responses. We reviewed a range of records. This included care records and people’s medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service including handover information, audits and safety checks.

The inspection concluded on 2 November 2023 when verbal feedback was provided to the registered managers.

Updated 14 December 2023

Lakeside Care Home is registered to provide personal care for up to 36 people. People’s rooms are located over two floors; there are two passenger lifts although most bedrooms were on the ground floor. There is a range of secure outdoor space and a variety of communal spaces for people to use.

There were two registered managers working at the home. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The service provided safe care to people. People looked at ease and comfortable in the company of staff and with each other. For example, they said, “Coming here saved my life”, “I can’t fault this place” and “I would recommend here without hesitation.” Visitors agreed with their relatives’ feedback. For example, they said, “They are very caring and the home is run in a safe a competent manner” and “The staff are approachable and friendly and they relate well to our relative. There appears to be good retention of care staff. The home is bright, clean and welcoming.”

People felt safe because there were enough staff on duty who knew how to support them. Staff were trained in safeguarding. Staff knew people well; staff worked well as a team and ensured there was a good exchange of communication which benefited people living at Lakeside Care Home.

The registered managers took the complexity of the care needs of people already living at the home into account before deciding if they could meet the care needs of new people. Where appropriate, care records identified risks in relation to falls, nutrition or pressure care.

The environment and equipment were well maintained to keep people and staff safe. The home was clean, tidy and free from persistent odours. There was on-going investment in the environment of the home, as well as the outdoor space. Visitors and people living at the home commented positively on the standard of cleanliness. Medicines were administered and managed safely.

Recruitment checks helped ensure staff were suitable to support people. People and relatives commented on the calibre of care and the welcoming atmosphere. Staff said they enjoyed working at the home, for example, they said, “Efficient team of carers, very friendly management, peaceful atmosphere to work.”

Staff provided personalised care because they knew people well. This was confirmed by feedback from people and relatives, as well as our observations of staff interactions with people.

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.

People's quality of life was enhanced because the care home was well run by two approachable registered managers whose skills complimented each other. They sought feedback from people living, visiting and working at the home and records showed how they acted upon people’s responses. There were effective quality assurance systems in place to monitor the standard of care.