Background to this inspection
Updated
9 July 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out over two days. On the first day the team consisted of two inspectors along with an Expert by Experience and a specialist nurse advisor. One inspector undertook day two. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. Sycamore Lodge is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced on the morning of the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service and their improvement plans. We used all this information to plan our inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection
We spoke with nine people and five relatives during our inspection along with the registered manager, the deputy manager, the area manager and the quality manager. We also spoke with two nursing staff, five support staff, head of maintenance and the administrator. We reviewed a range of records, including six care plans, medicines administration charts and quality assurance documents.
We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
Following our inspection, we fed back to the registered manager and the nominated individual as well as the provider’s management team. The registered manager sent additional information to support our inspection including paper copies of three people’s skin care charts.
Updated
9 July 2022
About the service
Sycamore 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. Sycamore Lodge is registered to support up to 78 people. At the time of this inspection 70 people were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Improvements were still required to the recording of people’s topical creams and repositioning charts. We recommend the provider implements a robust system for checking these records.
People were supported by enough staff who knew people well. People’s care plans contained important information relating to their medical conditions, life histories and any sensory requirements. Some care plans required improvement in relation to people’s individual needs, such as catheter and seizure care.
People were supported by staff who received training and who had a good understanding of the different types of abuse and who to report any concerns to. The provider monitored safeguarding concerns and incidents and accidents, including any outcomes or actions required.
People and relatives felt able to raise any issues or concerns with staff and the management. Complaints were logged, including any actions taken. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff respected people’s choice and gave examples of how they promoted people’s independence and privacy. People, relatives and health professionals’ views had been sought and staff felt the management was approachable and accessible.
People were supported by staff to access health and social care professionals if the need arose. The provider and the registered manager were accessible and approachable and the provider’s senior management team visited the service at least weekly.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 11 June 2021)
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and when to improve.
At this inspection we found most improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
At our last inspection we made recommendations in relation to staffing and experienced staff to meet's people's care and treatment. At this inspection we found the provider had made some improvements to ensuring agency staff were regular and familiar with people’s individual needs.
Why we inspected
We carried out a comprehensive inspection to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Sycamore Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.