We carried out a review of the data available to us about Kathleens Lodge Rest Home Ltd 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 Kathleens Lodge Rest Home Ltd, you can give feedback on this service.
Kathleens Lodge Rest Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 20 people in one adapted building. Care and support was provided to people living with dementia and other health care conditions. The service can support up to 20 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found:
People’s experience of using the service was positive. People told us they felt safe living at the service and observations confirmed this. One person told us, “We are like one big family here. We are treated well.”
Quality assurance systems were in place, but these were not always effective in driving improvement and identifying shortfalls. For example, care plan audits failed to identify differences within documentation. We have a recommendation about the management and completion of audits.
People were supported to make decisions and they were helped to know their rights by staff. Staff received the training they needed to make sure they had the skills to support people's needs. There was an open culture, led by the registered manager who was described by staff as being approachable and supportive. People knew the registered manager, who often provided their support, and were relaxed in their company.
Medicines were well managed and safely stored and administered. Healthcare professionals were involved as needed and people were supported to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
There were enough staff to make sure people's needs were met. Staff were also able to spend quality time with people chatting and enjoying each other's company. A dedicated activity coordinator was in post and a wide range of activities was available to promote people’s wellbeing.
People and relatives said staff treated them and their loved ones kindly. All the interactions we observed were respectful and professional. People's dignity and independence were respected.
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.
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 21 November 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.
Kathleens Lodge Rest Home Ltd provides residential care for up to 20 older people who may be living with dementia. The home is located in a residential area of Shoreham By Sea, East Sussex. At the time of this inspection there were 20 people living at the home.
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 19 August 2016 where it was awarded a rating of ‘Good’ in all domains and overall.
Since the inspection on 19 August 2016 we have received anonymous concerns in relation to staffing and the routines of the home impacting on people’s choices. These included times of rising and personal care. As a result we undertook this focused inspection to look into these concerns to check if people’s needs were being managed safely. This report only covers our findings in relation to these topics. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Kathleens Lodge Rest Home Ltd on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
During our inspection the registered manager was present. 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.
Sufficient numbers of staff were allocated to shifts in order to meet people’s needs safely. Staff understood people’s individual needs and preferences and we observed these were respected. People were seen getting up and spending time in areas of the home of their choosing. They also received different levels of assistance with personal care in line with the contents of their personalised care plans.
There was a very relaxed and calm atmosphere in the home and it was apparent that people felt safe and at ease in the presence of staff. Staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from harm and abuse.
People’s rights to freedom of movement were respected and risks to their wellbeing managed. The registered manager had changed the ordering and collection procedures to minimise the risk to people of not receiving their medicines safely.
A registered manager was in post. 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.
People were happy and relaxed with staff. They said they felt safe and there were sufficient staff to support them. One person told us, “I feel safe here”. Another said, “Yes, there’s plenty of staff, if I call they come”. When staff were recruited, their employment history was checked and references obtained. Checks were also undertaken to ensure new staff were safe to work within the care sector. Staff were knowledgeable and trained in safeguarding adults and what action they should take if they suspected abuse was taking place.
Medicines were managed safely and in accordance with current regulations and guidance. There were systems in place to ensure that medicines had been stored, administered, audited and reviewed appropriately.
People were being supported to make decisions in their best interests. The registered manager and staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
Accidents and incidents were recorded appropriately and steps taken to minimise the risk of similar events happening in the future. Risks associated with the environment and equipment had been identified and managed. Emergency procedures were in place in the event of fire and people knew what to do, as did the staff.
Staff had received essential training and there were opportunities for additional training specific to the needs of the service, including the care of people with dementia and bowel care training. Staff had received both one-to-one and group supervision meetings with their manager, and formal personal development plans, such as annual appraisals were in place. One member of staff told us, “Supervision is regular and useful”. Another said, “We get good training and sometimes nurses come in and train us”.
People were encouraged and supported to eat and drink well. There was a varied daily choice of meals and people were able to give feedback and have choice in what they ate and drank. One person told us, “The food is good, I like it”. Special dietary requirements were met, and people’s weight was monitored, with their permission. Health care was accessible for people and appointments were made for regular check-ups as needed.
People chose how to spend their day and they took part in activities in the service and the community. People told us they enjoyed the activities, which included singing, films, arts and crafts and themed events, such as reminiscence sessions and pub nights. One person told us, “There are plenty of good activities going on. There pretty good at activities, it’s not boring”. People were also encouraged to stay in touch with their families and receive visitors.
People felt well looked after and supported. We observed friendly and genuine relationships had developed between people and staff. One person told us, “The staff are lovely”. Care plans described people’s needs and preferences and they were encouraged to be as independent as possible.
People were encouraged to express their views and had completed surveys. Feedback received showed people were satisfied overall, and felt staff were friendly and helpful. People also said they felt listened to and any concerns or issues they raised were addressed. A visitor told us, “I’ve got no concerns, but I would always speak to the manager or staff”.
Staff were asked for their opinions on the service and whether they were happy in their work. They felt supported within their roles, describing an ‘open door’ management approach, where managers were always available to discuss suggestions and address problems or concerns. The provider undertook quality assurance reviews to measure and monitor the standard of the service and drive improvement.