We carried out a review of the data available to us about Lavender House Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Lavender House Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
The service was only receiving essential visitors at the time of our inspection. Any person entering the building had their temperature taken, completed a health questionnaire and wore full personal protective equipment (PPE) including a face visor.
The service had a dedicated visiting room which had a purpose-built wall and built in communication system. Although visits had been paused at the time of our inspection, the Registered Manager had a booking system in place so that relatives and friends could book appointments to visit when visits resume.
People were supported by staff in full PPE, whether that person was COVID-19 positive or negative. This is called barrier nursing. This is to protect both staff and people living in the service from spreading infection.
The registered manager told us that they had changed systems within the service to reduce the spread of infection. Staff entered through a back entrance immediately into a staff changing area where they changed into a clean laundered uniform.
The building was clean and free from clutter. During our inspection we observed staff cleaning communal areas. The registered manager told us that frequently touched areas were cleaned more often, and that staff used a sanitising machine overnight to sanitise communal areas. Maintenance staff followed a schedule to deep clean carpets and soft furnishings.
The registered manager told us that they were working collaboratively with the General Practitioner (GP) from the local surgery. The GP had been allocated to the service as a clinical lead, and they were well supported as a result.
Lavender House Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 31 older people at the time of the inspection, in one adapted building. The service can support up to 36 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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 received outstanding care and support by a registered manager and staff team that were very committed, compassionate and knowledgeable. Staff actively encouraged people to express their views and be involved in the day-to-day running of the service. People took part in interviewing potential new staff and creating food menus that both met their preferences and any dietary requirements. People were consulted about all aspects of their care and support.
Staff were flexible and responsive to people’s individual needs and preferences, finding creative and innovative ways to help people live as full and meaningful a life as possible. Often, by going out of their way to provide this support. Staff were interested in and found out about people’s previous life interests and hobbies and encouraged and supported them to maintain these interests. Staff knew people very well and were skilled at engaging them in activities they enjoyed, including trips outside of the service. Engagement in activities and support networks outside of the service was an important part of people’s lives. Staff enabled people to have links within the local community and were always looking to build further links.
There was a strong recognition from staff that people were individuals with individual needs. Staff spoke enthusiastically and passionately about how they provided people with high quality, person-centred care. Staff were skilled at recognising when people were feeling vulnerable, needed reassurance and empathy and how this should be given.
People’s wishes, suggestions and concerns were listened to, respected, and acted on. Staff took time and strove to overcome any obstacles to help people achieve their wishes and how people wanted to spend their time. This made people feel cared for and valued.
Staff knew how to protect people from risk and harm, and how to report concerns. Staff identified any accidents and incidents that happened and quick action was taken. Learning was shared with other staff, to reduce the risk of it happening again.
Risk management plans provided detailed information for staff on how to reduce and monitor the risks to people’s health and welfare. Equipment and technology were used to increase people’s independence and support people’s well-being. People were having their medicines as prescribed. Staff were working with social care and health professionals and current guidance to promote people’s well-being. Visiting stakeholders had very positive comments about the service provided and how staff worked collaboratively with them.
People received a very kind and compassionate service from staff who knew their care and support needs very well. Staff maintained and promoted people’s privacy and dignity and respected their equality and diversity.
Recruitment checks were in place to make sure potential new staff were suitable to work with the people they supported. Staff were trained to meet people’s care and support needs, and development opportunities were in place for staff to increase their skills and knowledge. Supervisions, appraisals and competency checks were in place to monitor and develop staff.
The provider and registered manager were experienced, skilled leaders who were always clear about their expectation that a high-quality service be delivered to people. People, their relatives, representatives, and staff were encouraged to make suggestions to improve how the service was run. Audit and governance systems were in place to monitor the service, to drive forward and sustain improvements. The registered manager and their staff team linked up, communicated and worked with other organisations to ensure people’s well-being.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 16 December 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
This comprehensive inspection took place on 30 November 2016 and was unannounced.
The provider is required to have a registered manager as one of their conditions of registration.
A registered manager was in post at the time of the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the home. 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.
People were kept safe and staff were knowledgeable about reporting any incident of harm. People were looked after by enough staff to support them with their individual needs. Pre-employment checks were completed on staff before they were assessed to be suitable to look after people who used the service. People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed.
People were helped to eat and drink sufficient amounts of food and drink. They were provided also with choices of food and drink to meet their individual dietary preferences and requirements. People were supported to access health care services. This was to ensure that their individual health needs were met.
The CQC is required by law to monitor the Mental Capacity Act 2005 [MCA 2005] and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards [DoLS] and to report on what we find. The provider was aware of what they were required to do should any person lack mental capacity. DoLS applications had been made and conditions of those authorised were being met. People were able to make decisions about their day-to-day care. Staff were trained and had knowledge about the application of the MCA.
People were looked after by staff who were trained and supported to do their job.
People were looked after by kind staff who treated them with respect and dignity. They and their relatives were given opportunities to be involved in the review of people’s individual care plans.
Care was provided based on people’s individual needs. Staff had access to up-to-date care plan guidance to ensure that people’s needs were met in accordance to their assessed needs. There was a process in place so that people’s concerns and complaints were listened to and action was taken to address them.
The registered manager was supported by representatives of the provider, ancillary staff and a team of care staff. Staff were supported and managed to look after people in a safe way. Staff, people and their relatives were able to make suggestions and actions were taken as a result. Quality monitoring procedures were in place and action was taken where improvements were identified.
Lavender House Care Home is registered to provide accommodation support and non-nursing care for up to 33 people, some of who live with dementia. The home is a domestic-style dwelling and is located in a residential suburb of the city of Peterborough. At the time of our inspection there were 26 people living in the home.
A registered manager was in post but was not at the home when we visited. 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.
The inspection was unannounced and was carried out on 08 December 2014 by one inspector. The previous inspection was carried out on 22 October 2013 when we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations.
People were protected from the risk of harm and were looked after by enough staff. People were supported to take their medication as prescribed and also their individual health and safety risks were assessed and these were well-managed. Most of the checks were completed during the recruitment of new staff so that suitable staff looked after people who lived at Lavender Care Home.
People received the care that met their individual health needs and they were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts of their choice of food and drink.
People’s rights in making decisions and suggestions in relation to their support and care were valued and acted on. Individual recreational and social hobbies and interests were provided to maintain and promote people’s wellbeing. Staff were trained and supported to provide people with safe and appropriate support and care.
The CQC monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care services. We found that people’s rights may not have been fully protected as we found some of the people only went out with the support from staff or their visitors. DoLS applications had not been made and submitted to the authorising agencies in respect of these people.
People were treated with respect by patient and attentive staff and they were involved in the development and review of their own care plans. However, improvements were needed as people were not consistently treated with respect and dignity.
People received care that was responsive to their individual needs and were supported to maintain contact with their relatives and with the community. People knew who to speak with if they were unhappy and wanted to make their concerns known.
The care home was well-led and staff enjoyed their work and were supported and managed to look after people in a caring and safe way. People were supported to have links with the local community. They and staff made suggestions at meetings and actions were taken as a result. Quality monitoring procedures were in place and action had been taken where improvements were identified.
Improvements had been made to ensure that people who used the service were treated with respect and dignity at all times. This included when they were in their rooms; the way in which they were now dressed and how they were supported to maintain their dignity when they were eating and drinking.
Improvements had been made to ensure that people's sense of wellbeing and their health and safety were maintained and promoted at all times. This included improvements in how members of staff provided people with support and care, especially during mealtimes.
All of the people said that they were very satisfied with the standard and quality of their support and care and this was described as being, 'Absolutely wonderful'. However, improvements are needed to ensure that people receive safe and good quality support and care at all times.
Effective systems were in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm. People said that they felt reassured and safe.
People said that they liked the staff and had confidence in their capabilities to provide them with safe and appropriate support and care. Systems were in place to ensure that people received support and care from a supervised and trained team of staff. Measures were in place to improve the numbers of staff attendending and completing training, including caring for people who are living with dementia.
Records were held and kept up-to-date to demonstrate that people visiting, living, and working at Lavender House Care Home were safe from inappropriate support and care and from unsafe premises.