7 March 2017
During a routine inspection
Lambton Grange provides care and accommodation for up to eight people with a learning disability. On the day of our inspection there were seven people using the service.
The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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. At the time of our inspection visit, the registered manager was on annual leave and the deputy manager was in charge of the home.
We last inspected the service in March 2015 and rated the service as ‘Good.’ At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.
Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and risk assessments were in place. The registered manager understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults.
Appropriate arrangements were in place for the administration and storage of medicines.
The home was clean, spacious and suitable for the people who used the service and appropriate health and safety checks had been carried out.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to keep people safe however staffing levels did not always provide the flexibility for staff to take people out.
The registered provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff. Staff were suitably trained and received regular supervisions and appraisals.
The registered provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and was following the requirements in the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs. Care records contained evidence of visits to and from external health care specialists.
People who used the service and family members were complimentary about the standard of care at Lambton Grange.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible. People’s end of life care wishes had been discussed and recorded.
Care records showed that people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person centred way.
Activities were arranged for people who used the service based on their likes and interests and to help meet their social needs.
The registered provider had an effective complaints procedure in place and people who used the service and family members were aware of how to make a complaint.
People who used the service, family members and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service.