We carried out a review of the data available to us about Faldonside Lodge 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 Faldonside Lodge, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice:
People’s individual risks in relation to COVID-19 had been assessed and care plans were in place to detail what actions staff should take to minimise the risk of people contracting COVID-19.
Staff were observed to be wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in line with current government guidelines. There were sufficient stocks of PPE, and a number of PPE stations throughout the home.
There was clear signage on display on the exterior of the service. This notified visitors what PPE they should be wearing and to advise them to maintain social distancing. Once inside the home, there was motion-sensored hand sanitiser on the wall and further information about what precautions visitors were required to take.
People living in the service and staff were tested for COVID-19 at the intervals stipulated by government guidelines.
People were supported to maintain contact with their relatives either by face to face visits, telephone, and video-calling. Screens were in place to facilitate face to face visits, and visits were arranged via a booking system.
Faldonside Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to 13 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 15 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received exceptionally individualised care from staff who were thoughtful, caring and accepting. The loving and warm culture of the service promoted an especially open and mutually supportive nature that built strong relationships. People told us the care delivery exceeded expectations and that people’s holistic needs were expertly met. Health professionals shared this view.
People were put at the heart of the service which worked around them, their needs and wishes. 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. The service was particularly adept at meeting people’s communication needs and invested in creative approaches to this meaning people could fully express themselves.
Consistent and robust oversight, although not always on a formal basis, from the registered manager and their staff team meant high quality care was always delivered. People were involved, engaged and consulted on a regular basis. Advocates were encouraged and used as required. Staff were skilled, supported and demonstrated qualities that made people feel comfortable and cared for. No one we spoke with needed to raise any concerns but felt confident that, should they need to, the registered manager would take them seriously and do whatever was required to improve the situation.
People told us the service was safe and responsive. The professional and extremely caring attitude of the staff assured family members that their relatives were very well looked after at Faldonside Lodge. We saw that risks had been addressed and where we found minor issues the registered manager actioned these immediately. Staff had received training in appropriate subjects and used reflective practice to further improve their skills and the service. Accidents were recorded, assessed and appropriately actioned and people received their medicines as prescribed. People’s nutritional needs were met, and they had access to a wide range of health services that ensured their health and wellbeing.
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 (report published 5 July 2017).
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.
There was a registered manager in the home. 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.
At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Why the service is rated Good
People were treated in a kind and caring way at Faldonside Lodge and were consistently involved in the planning and reviewing of their care. People’s privacy and dignity was consistently upheld and there were no restrictions placed on when people could have relatives or friends visit them.
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 supported this practice.
Individual risks to people and within the environment were consistently assessed and steps had been taken to mitigate these risks. There were consistently enough staff to support people.
People’s medicines were managed and stored in a safe way and people received their medicines as prescribed.
Staff were supported through regular supervisions and by having access to a variety of courses which would develop their skills and knowledge within their role. Staff ensured that people maintained a healthy dietary intake and people had their preferences catered for. People were able to access relevant healthcare professionals when needed.
There were regular quality satisfaction surveys to gain people’s feedback about their care and treatment. The registered manager involved people living in the home and the staff in discussions about how the service could be improved.
Further information is in the detailed findings below
We inspected Faldonside Lodge on the 28 November 2014. This was an unannounced inspection.
Faldonside Lodge provides care for up to 15 older people who require nursing or personal care. The home is registered with the Care Quality Commission by Mrs J. Soobrayen. There were eight people living in the home when we inspected.
At the time of the inspection the home had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and to report on what we find. The DoLS are a code of practice to supplement the main MCA 20015 Code of Practice. They are put in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves or others. No applications had been made relating to people who lived at the home and we found that the requirements of the MCA 2005 had been complied with.
People told us they felt safe at the home. Staff were aware of how to identify abuse and what to do if they suspected abuse was taking place. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and refresher training was about to be undertaken.
The home undertook safe and robust employment checks when recruiting new employees. This helped to achieve and maintain the recruitment of staff that were qualified, trained and of good character. The provider and registered manager were maintaining staffing levels which contributed to protecting people from harm.
Medicines were managed, stored and administered safely by staff who had been properly trained.
Any accidents or incidents were recorded appropriately and timely. Learning from such experiences was shared with staff so as to help prevent recurrences.
At the time of the inspection the home was clean and tidy and free from hazard. Staff were trained in infection prevention the home was equipped with hand sanitizers and relevant information posters about the need for good hand hygiene.
Staff undertook regular training, supported by refresher training where relevant. Staff were empowered and supported to progress their careers by taking National Vocational Qualifications in care (NVQ). This contributed to ensuring they had the skills and knowledge necessary to support people well.
People’s choices in relation to their food and drink and times that they took breakfast were flexible to meet their needs.
Hot and cold drinks were to hand in all areas of the home and people told us they never went without a drink or snack if they wanted one. We observed this to be the case during the inspection.
People were supported to see health professionals where this was needed for rehabilitation or treatment. When necessary GP visits, nurse visits and chiropody visits were arranged. The registered manager would take people to see their own GP or dentist if they wished.
Staff were caring and attentive towards people who lived at the home. At all times staff were respectful and courteous. People were encouraged, where possible, to maintain independence. No pressure was placed on anyone to do anything they did not wish to. Staff were fully aware of people’s personal choices as to how they wished to spend their time.
People and staff were encouraged to be open about any concerns they may have had and the registered manager was seen to respond in a kind and compassionate way at all times, answering questions, re-assuring people and instinctively knowing what was needed.
Assessments of people’s needs took place before they went to live at the home. Any changes to a person’s needs or requirements were immediately acted on and, where appropriate or relevant, family were involved in discussions about changing needs. Individual likes and dislikes, hobbies and interests were noted and acted upon.
People and family members told us how well managed the home was. In particular, they told us about the ‘extra lengths’ the registered manager went to, to make sure people were safe and well cared for. The provider complied with their responsibilities to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of specific events happening within the home in a timely manner.
Before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes. Where one person was unable to consent verbally, staff were able to explain to us how they were satisfied that the person had consented to receive the 'flu jab'. This demonstrated that the home understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and respected the person's rights.
We reviewed care records for four people, each of whom had different needs. Each record held a comprehensive pre-admission assessment which enabled the home to determine whether they could meet the person's individual needs. Monthly reviews were done promptly.
People were supported to be able to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs. Two people received direct assistance from staff to eat and required a soft diet. Adapted cutlery had been provided for one person.
The provider had robust procedures in place for staff recruitment and a complaints process was available should people living in the home or visitors wish to make a complaint.
Care plans showed that people were involved in making decisions about how they wished to be cared for. They were regularly asked what they would like to do and staff supported their independence. The care given by staff reflected what was documented in people's care plans, and care plans were regularly reviewed and updated.
During the visit we observed staff speaking with people in a caring and respectful manner. We noted that people had different communication needs and these were met by staff. We saw that there were enough suitably trained and experienced staff to meet the needs of people using the service. Staff were well supported and one member of staff said, 'I feel really well supported and the management are very good'.
This home had various methods that were used to ensure the quality of the care was assessed. Meetings, reviews and senior management audits were in place and records were available.
People who live in the home told us that if they have any problems 'I just push the emergency bell and staff are always there'. When we asked if they feel they would be listened to if they have a worry at all, we were told that staff always help and they would feel confident talking to staff about any problems.
People with whom we spoke told us that the one area they would improve is the opportunity to get out a bit more. For example, one person said 'I cannot complain about anything, staff are wonderful and I love it here. The only thing I would say is that we do not get a chance to go out as much as I would like. Just a short walk or trip to the sea and have an ice cream more often would be rather nice.'
The building itself has been extended and now has a larger lounge area with windows onto the garden and people told us they enjoy this space and love sitting looking at the garden, which is tended to some degree by people living in the home during the summer months.