Archived: The Laurels Care Home with Nursing

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘The Laurels Care Home with Nursing’ on our website at ‘www.cqc.org.uk’.

The service had a registered manager who had been registered with the Care Quality Commission since January 2015. 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 Laurels Care Home with Nursing is registered to provide nursing care for up to 20 people. On the day of our inspection, there were 17 people living at the home.

We found improvements were needed to the systems in place for supporting people with ‘as and when required’ (PRN) medicines. The registered manager told us they would ensure PRN protocols were updated, and that the medications policy would be updated to include information on how to support people with PRN medicines. We also found improvements were needed to the system for the ordering, storing and disposing of medicines. We found stock levels did not always tally with amounts recorded. During our inspection, the registered manager acted swiftly to make improvements. This included a full stock check of medication and an audit of the system, with changes being made to assist staff in future.

Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of harm and staff were knowledgeable about how to keep people safe. Staff could explain safeguarding policies and procedures, and actions they would take if they suspected abuse. There were enough staff employed, and on shift to keep people safe and meet their needs. Pre-employment checks had been carried out on staff before they started working at the home.

The requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were in place to protect people who may not have the capacity to make decisions for themselves. Care records we looked at contained risk assessments to identify risks associated with people’s care and to help monitor and reduce these risks without placing undue restrictions on people.

Appropriate referrals were made to healthcare professionals when required and the home was proactive in identifying changing needs. A GP clinic held weekly at the home meant people’s health conditions could be regularly monitored, which had resulted in a reduced number of admissions to hospitals.

Care and support records were personalised to people, and contained details of their life histories, preferences and favourite activities. The home enabled people to be involved in the local and wider community, by supporting people to attend local events, taking trips away to the coast and inviting the public into the home for the summer fayre. People we spoke with told us they were excited for the summer fayre that weekend.

Staff were kind and caring, and people who lived at the home said they felt staff knew them well. People said they were able to bring their own possessions into the home to make it feel more homely and familiar.

There was a complaints policy in place, which informed people how to raise a concern. Complaints were encouraged, even after initial concerns had been addressed and resolved. People said they felt able and confident to complain and knew how to.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to make sure full and safe procedures were adhered to. People using the service and their relatives had been asked for their feedback through questionnaires, the results of these had been audited to identify any areas for improvement and any actions were addressed.

Three people who used the service told us they were happy with the food and refreshments that were available. They also told us they were given a choice as to what food they wanted to eat. We saw evidence of people being given choices as to what they wished to eat. We found that a nutritious and balanced diet was made available.

Three people who used the service told us they felt the home was clean. We found there were systems in place to manage and monitor the prevention and control of infection.

Three people who used the service told us there were enough staff available to meet people's needs. We also spoke with two members of staff who told us there were enough staff on duty. A review of staffing records showed there were sufficient staff to meet people's needs.

Three people who used the service told us they knew how to make a complaint and who to complain to. We found there was a complaints procedure in place and staff were aware of their responsibility to report verbal complaints so they could be formally investigated.

People told us they were happy with the standard of care delivered at the home. We also reviewed care records which showed that risk assessments and formal reviews were undertaken to ensure care was effective and safe.

People told us they felt safe at the home. There was a policy on safeguarding and care workers we spoke with understood how to report any suspicions of abuse.

We found that all staff had received infection control training and that an infection control audit had been carried out. There were appropriate facilities for the cleaning of equipment in a dedicated sluice room. There was a laundry room with a system to separate dirty and clean areas.

We found there was a secure entry system using a keypad lock.

People told us they thought care workers knew what they were doing. We found that care workers got appropriate training, supervision and development.

People told us they were asked for their opinion as to the quality of care provided. There were also systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service people received.