Background to this inspection
Updated
29 August 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on the 8 August 2018 and was unannounced. One inspector carried out the inspection. Before the inspection we looked at all the information we had about the service. This information included statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also contacted health and social care professionals and the local authority that commissions services from the provider to gain their views about the home. We used this information to help inform our inspection planning.
During the inspection we looked at two people’s care records, three staff recruitment records and records relating to the management of the home such as staff training, supervision, audits and policies and procedures. We spoke to all four people using the service to gain their views about receiving care. We also spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager and two support workers about how the home was being run and what it was like to work there.
Updated
29 August 2018
This inspection took place on the 8 August 2018 and was unannounced. Melba Lodge Limited is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing, or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Melba Lodge Limited provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people with mental health needs. There were four people living at the service at the time of our inspection.
At our last inspection on 3 July 2017 we found breaches of Regulations 12 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 due to concerns that risks to people’s health and welfare were not always managed safely and the provider had not always followed safe recruitment practices when employing new staff.
At this inspection we found appropriate procedures were in place to support people where risks to their health and welfare had been identified. We also found that robust recruitment checks were being carried out before staff were employed to work at the home.
The home had a registered manager in post. 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’. The registered manager was also the registered provider of the home. 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.
There were safeguarding and whistle blowing procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures. There was enough staff and staff were attentive to people’s needs. People received support with medicines when required. There were arrangements in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies and there were systems in place to monitor infection control, the safety of the premises and equipment used within the home.
Staff had completed an induction when they started work and received training relevant to people’s needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People were encouraged to eat healthy meals and to cook for themselves. Staff monitored people’s health and welfare and where there were concerns people were referred to appropriate health professionals.
People were provided with appropriate information about the service. This ensured they were aware of the standard of care they should expect. People’s privacy and dignity was respected. People had been consulted about their care and support needs. These needs were assessed before they moved into the home. People’s care plans included sections on their diverse needs. Staff had received training on equality and diversity during their induction. There was a wide range of activities for people to partake in if they wished to do so. The home had a complaints procedure in place and people said they were confident their complaints would be listened to and acted on. None of the people living at the home required support with end of life care. However the registered manager knew which care providers to contact to access this type of care and support if it was required.
The provider recognised the importance of regularly monitoring the quality of the service. Regular health and safety, medicines, fire safety and incidents and accidents audits were carried out at the home. They worked with other care providers and professional bodies to make sure people received good care. The provider considered people, their relatives and staff views of the service through regular satisfaction surveys. There was an out of hours on call system in operation that ensured management support and advice was always available for staff when they needed it. Staff said they liked working at the home and they received good support from the registered manager and deputy manager.