Alvina Lodge

Alvina Lodge is run by a small private organisation. The provider owns and manages one other care home. One of the owners is also the registered manager for Alvina Lodge. Alvina Lodge is a care home providing personal care to up to 5 people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were 4 people using the service.

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

The staff had not always received a thorough induction into Alvina Lodge when they had worked at the provider’s other service. Staff did not always receive regular appraisals. Some staff told us they did not always feel supported or valued by the management team.

The staff received online training but had not received specific training in techniques to deal with people who had difficulty managing their emotions and anxiety.

People’s medicines were managed safely to help ensure people received their medicines as prescribed and in line with national guidance. However, a person’s medicine to be given as required was not included on their medicines administration record. This was addressed with the pharmacist following our inspection.

The provider relied on temporary (agency) staff on most shifts. However, there was evidence agency staff were regular and had received an induction into the service or training appropriate to the needs of people who used it.

Staff were recruited appropriately.

The staff undertook regular daily safety checks. Lessons were learned when things went wrong. The management team had systems in place to manage incidents and accidents and prevent re-occurrence of these.

Risk assessments contained guidelines and plans for staff on how to minimise risks for people using the service.

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.

People’s needs were recorded in their care plans and met. Staff knew people’s needs and how to meet these in line with their care plans.

People told us they felt safe when receiving care. The provider had processes in place for the recording and investigation of complaints and incidents and accidents.

The registered manager and senior staff were responsive to and worked in partnership with other agencies to meet people’s needs.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Alvina Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 5 December 2017).

Why we inspected

The inspection was carried out based on the date of the last comprehensive inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the effective and well-led sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

We found the following examples of good practice.

• People living at the home were supported to have visitors and the provider ensured appropriate checks were carried out to comply with current guidance. Visitors were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) if required.

• People were supported to access the community if they wished and the care workers ensured people were aware of the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing.

• The provider had a clear process for supporting people with monthly COVID-19 testing and ensuring care workers carried out weekly COVID 19 tests in line with guidance.

• The deputy manager explained that if an outbreak of COVID 19 was to happen people who tested positive would be supported to stay in their room.

• Care workers had completed training on infection control and the use of PPE. We saw care workers were using PPE in line with current guidance.

• COVID 19 risk assessments had been carried out for people living at the service and care workers identified any issues which could increase their risks and how these could be mitigated.

This was Alvina Lodge’s first inspection since registering in October 2016. People had been using the service since December 2016.The service was run by Flying Angel Limited.

Alvina Lodge provides support and accommodation for up to five adults who have mental health needs. There were four people using the service at the time of this inspection.

There was a registered manager 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The registered manager and deputy manager worked alongside staff on shift so that they could see how the service met people's needs.

There were systems in place to check the fire procedures and the equipment used to protect people in the event of a fire.

Staff received training on safeguarding adults from abuse and there were policies and procedures in place to inform staff on what to do if they had a concern about a person’s welfare and safety. There had been no safeguarding incidents since the service registered.

People’s care records included people's needs and preferences and were individualised. We saw information had been reviewed on a regular basis.

Feedback from people using the service, staff we spoke with and one social care professional was positive about the service.

Staff received support through one to one and group meetings. They also received an annual appraisal of their work. Training on various topics and refresher training had been arranged that were relevant to staff member's roles and responsibilities.

People were unrestricted in their movement around the service and the activities they chose to participate in. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the systems in the service supported this practice.

There were sufficient numbers of staff working to meet people’s needs. Recruitment checks were carried out to make sure staff were suitable to work with people using the service.

People received the medicines they needed safely.

People had access to the health care services they needed and their nutritional needs were being met.

There was a complaints procedure available and people told us they knew how to raise a concern or complaint.

There were checks and regular audits on a range of areas in the service to ensure people received safe good care.