Shakti Lodge

Updated 4 June 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

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

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Shakti Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

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. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, operations manager, quality and compliance officer, a senior care worker and two care workers.

We observed practice within the service and reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including health and safety records and meeting minutes.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at records relating to the management of the service such as quality assurance records and policies. We spoke with three relatives.

Updated 4 June 2021

About the service

Shakti Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 26 people aged 65 and over some of whom were living with dementia. At the time of the inspection Shakti lodge was accommodating 17 people in one adapted building.

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

At the last inspection, we found that there were insufficient quality assurance processes and shortfalls in recording information. At this inspection these issues had been addressed.

The provider had quality assurance processes in place to monitor the quality of care. These systems identified if there were any shortfalls within the service and what actions had been taken to resolve the issues. However, actions taken were not always consistently implemented and therefore some issues remained unresolved. We have made a recommendation about this.

At the last inspection, we found that medicines were not always managed safely. At this inspection several issues had been addressed, however there were still some shortfalls. We found topical medicine administration records had not been completed and liquid medicines did not have dates when they had been opened. We have made a recommendation about this.

Since the last inspection, fire safety checks for 2019 and 2020 found several areas of improvement that were needed to maintain people’s safety. Actions had been taken by the provider, however there continued to be several issues with fire safety. We referred our findings onto Kent Fire and Rescue service (KFRS). Following the inspection, the operations manager gave assurances all fire safety works were met which was validated by an inspection from KFRS.

People told us they felt safe living at the service. Staff safeguarded people from potential abuse and felt confident any concerns raised about a person or their care, would be acted on by the management. There was a system for the recording and review of accidents and incidents and appropriate referrals for support from other professionals was sought where necessary.

Staff knew people’s personal risks and how best to support them safely. Positive risk taking was managed safely by the service to support people to be as independent as they wanted. 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.

There were enough staff employed by the service to meet people’s needs. The service appeared clean and tidy. Risk of infection was being prevented and controlled and COVID-19 risk management and safe practice guidance was being followed by the provider.

Feedback from people living at the service, relatives and staff was positive about the care and management. People appeared happy and engaged. Staff told us they felt valued and supported by the registered manager.

The provider was aware of their regulatory requirements and these were met. The registered manager worked in partnership with other agencies and health care professionals to achieve good outcomes for people.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 25 October 2019) and there were multiple breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 25 October 2019. Breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

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.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service remains requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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

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.