Background to this inspection
Updated
29 July 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
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector, a specialist nurse advisor and an expert by experience. A specialist advisor is a person with professional expertise in care and/or nursing. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Harrowby 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 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
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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and 13 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eleven members of staff including the provider, registered manager, nurses, senior care workers, care workers, administrator and the chef.
We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
29 July 2021
About the service
Harrowby Lodge Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 22 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 30 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Quality monitoring of the service was not robust. Audits did not always identify shortfalls in the service. The registered manager and provider were open, transparent and responsive to shortfalls we identified and took prompt action to bring about the required improvements.
People received personalised care and their needs and risks were assessed and monitored. Care plans were person centred with people and their relative’s views at the centre of them. There were several meaningful activities available to people and the service had good links with the local community.
There were enough experienced and qualified staff to safely meet people’s needs. Staff knew people well and were kind and considerate when delivering care.
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, relatives and staff thought the service was well managed. They felt supported and able to raise any concerns which were taken seriously. Several compliments were on display which referred to the quality of care people received.
Medicines were administered safely, and accidents and incidents reported where required.
Infection prevention and control procedures ensured as much as practicably possible people were protected from the risk of infectious diseases.
The service worked in partnership with health professionals.
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 last (01 November 2019).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns we received in relation to safe care. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has remained the same. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
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.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Harrowby Lodge Nursing Home 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.