Mermaid Lodge

Updated 11 December 2019

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.

Service and service type

Mermaid 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. The registered manager was also the provider and is referred to as the provider throughout this report.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. A change in the way CQC requests information meant the provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We sought feedback from five health and social care professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three staff including the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included five people's care 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 11 December 2019

The service is located in Lancing and can accommodate up to nine people in one adapted building. The service provides people with a safe place to live and support to make healthy lifestyle choices.

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

There was not an adequate process for assessing and monitoring the quality of the services provided and ensuring that records were accurate and complete. Health and safety checks were not routinely taking place and risks to people had not always been assessed and monitored.

People lived independent lifestyles and they told us they were happy with the care they received. People said the service provided them with a safe place to live and positive environmental experiences. People were protected from the risk of abuse and harm by staff who knew what action to take if they had any concerns. Some people required staff to administer or prompt them to take their medicines; this was completed in a safe way. People’s needs were regularly reviewed to ensure the service they received was suitable.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure people received support when they needed it. People had direct access to staff at all times. People spoke positively about the staff and supportive 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 a consistent staff team.

Before people received support from the service, the registered manager undertook assessments of people’s needs. People and their relatives were involved in discussions about their support and people’s life stories were captured. This information was used to develop care plans that enabled people to be supported in a person centred way.

People's privacy and dignity was respected, and people's diverse needs were supported. 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 and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 12 December 2018) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider failed to complete an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection not, enough improvements had been made and

the provider was still in breach of regulations. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement

We have identified two continued breaches of regulation. Quality assurance processes were not in place to

assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. Risks to people had not always been identified to ensure people’s safety, this included ensuring the premises and equipment were safe. You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Full information about CQC's regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for 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 return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.