Archived: Lawn Park Care Home

Accommodation for up to 49 people is provided in the service over two floors. The service is designed to meet the needs of older people. There were 38 people using the service at the time of our inspection.

A registered manager was in post but she was not available during the inspection. 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Systems were in place for staff to identify and manage risks and respond to accidents and incidents. However, risks to people were not always safely managed.

Sufficient staff were on duty to meet people’s needs during our inspection but identified staffing levels had not been met a number of times in the previous month.

People felt safe in the home and staff knew how to identify and respond to potential signs of abuse. Staff were recruited through safe recruitment practices. Medicines were safely managed.

Staff received appropriate induction, training, supervision and appraisal. People’s rights were protected under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People received sufficient to eat and drink. External professionals were involved in people’s care as appropriate. However, the adaptation, design and decoration of the service could be improved to support people living with dementia.

Staff were kind and knew people well. People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care. Advocacy information was made available to people.

People generally received care that respected their privacy and dignity and promoted their independence.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. Care records contained information to support staff to meet people’s individual needs.

A complaints process was in place and staff knew how to respond to complaints.

People and their relatives were involved or had opportunities to be involved in the development of the service. Staff told us they would be confident in raising any concerns with the registered manager and that appropriate action would be taken.

The provider and registered manager were meeting their regulatory responsibilities. There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided.

We spoke with seven people who used the service, three visiting relatives, the manager and operations manager a trained nurse, a care worker and a laundry worker.

People who used the service were able to express that they were happy with the care they received. Relatives of people who used the service told us that they were very satisfied; they told us that care was provided safely and that staff were very kind and caring.

A relative told us, 'Staff always call us; they invite us to meetings and arrange meetings with my relatives GP so that we are always kept informed and consulted about any changes.'

We found that people who used the service were able to give valid consent. If they could not give their consent appropriate actions were taken to protect their rights and best interests.

A relative told us, 'When my relative was very ill last year, the staff sat with her for five nights in a row, I know she is safe here.'

We found that people who used the service had their health needs assessed and they experienced effective, safe and appropriate care, treatment and support.

We spoke with seven people who used the service and three visiting relatives. All of these people told us they were very satisfied with the level of cleanliness in the home.

We found that the provider had ensured that appropriate standards of cleanliness and hygiene were maintained.

Relatives we spoke with told us they found that the care provided was excellent. They had praise for the kindness and caring approach showed by all the staff working at the home. One relative told us, 'My relative has been in other homes but this home is far better, I have no worries when I leave here, the staff care for her very well.'

We found effective management systems were in place to maintain the quality and safety of the service.