Archived: Horsell Lodge

Updated 28 April 2017

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 unannounced inspection took place on 27 March 2017. The inspection team consisted of four inspectors.

Prior to this inspection we reviewed records held by CQC which included notifications, complaints and any safeguarding concerns. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern at the inspection. We also asked 12 health and social care professionals for their feedback on the service. We received feedback from two.

We had asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR prior as part of our inspection and did not identify any risks in relation to the service from the information contained in the PIR.

During the inspection we spoke with five people, the registered manager, five staff and three relatives. We observed staff carrying out their duties, such as assisting people to move around the home and helping people with food and drink.

We reviewed a variety of documents which included three people’s care plans, five staff files, training information, medicines records and some policies and procedures in relation to the running of the home.

We last inspected Horsell Lodge in November 2014 when we had no concerns.

Updated 28 April 2017

Horsell Lodge provides a care home without nursing for people who may be living with dementia or other associated age related illnesses. The home can accommodate up to 46 people, however at the time of the inspection 30 people were living in the home.

This was an unannounced inspection that took place on 27 March 2017.

The home had a registered manager. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager assisted us with our inspection on the day.

People told us they felt safe living within the home. The provider had robust recruitment processes in place to help ensure that only appropriate staff were employed in the home. Where risks had been identified for people or they had experienced accidents/incidents staff took appropriate action and staff had a good understanding on what to do should they suspect abuse was taking place.

People were cared for by a sufficient number of staff. People’s needs were responded to in line with their care plan and in a prompt manner. Staff demonstrated a caring attitude towards people. One that showed people respect and made them to feel as though they mattered. The relationships between people and staff were relaxed and friendly.

Activities took place within the home and staff were looking at different ways to ensure people’s interests were recognised. People’s care plans were detailed and contained information for staff in order that they could provide people with appropriate care.

People were cared for by staff who felt supported and valued by management. Staff were provided with all the necessary training to allow them to carry out their roles competently and they had regular opportunities to meet with their line manager to discuss their performance.

People’s medicines were managed safely and they received the medicines they required. People were supported to see a healthcare professional should their health needs change. In the event of an emergency people’s care would continue with the least disruption possible.

Staff followed the legal requirements in relation to consent and helped to ensure people made their own choices. Where people had particular preferences staff worked closely with them to ensure these were met. Where people had specific dietary requirements these were recognised by staff.

People told us if they had any concerns they would not hesitate to speak to staff. People were involved in the running of the home as regular meetings were held were they had the opportunity to give their feedback.

The registered manager had good management oversight of the home and the people who lived there. Good quality assurance processes were in place to monitor the quality of care provided.

During our inspection we made some recommendations to the registered provider.