Arundel Park Lodge

Updated 6 September 2019

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector and an Expert by Experience.

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

Arundel Park 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 inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who worked with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the registered manager, registered nurse, four care workers and the chef.

We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two 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.

Updated 6 September 2019

About the service

Arundel Park Lodge is a nursing and residential care home providing personal and nursing care to people with health and age related needs. This included people who were living with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

The service is located in Saltdean and accommodates 30 people in one adapted building with accommodation over two floors. At the time of our inspection 28 people were living at the service.

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

People’s care plans did not always reflect a person centred approach to meet their needs and preferences. We have made a recommendation for the provider about reviewing care plans. Staff provided personalised care and people were happy with the care they received and felt safe with the staff that were supporting them. Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse and improper treatment and staff knew how to identify potential harm and report concerns. People received their medicines safely from trained nurses.

People were cared for by staff who were well supported and had the right skills and knowledge to meet their needs effectively. Checks were carried out prior to staff starting work to ensure their suitability to work with people. People received support from a consistent staff team who knew them well. There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure people did not feel rushed and people received their support on time.

There were processes to monitor the quality of the service and to ensure management oversight of all accidents and incidents. Staff received supervision in line with the provider’s supervision policy. The service was led by a registered manager who was described by people and staff as approachable and caring. The culture of the service was open and inclusive.

People were supported to have maximum control over 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.

Positive and caring relationships had been developed between staff and people. People were treated with kindness and compassion and staff were friendly and respectful. People benefited from having support from staff who had a good understanding of their individual needs.

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 11 January 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.