• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Lordington Park

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Lordington, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DX (01243) 371536

Provided and run by:
Lordington Park

All Inspections

19 September 2017

During a routine inspection

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 19 September 2017

Lordington Park provides care, support and accommodation for up to a maximum of 18 older people. Accommodation was over two floors with a lift provided to access the first floor. Accommodation consisted of communal lounge, dining room, laundry, kitchen office and bathrooms. There were 18 individual bedrooms which were all en-suite with one exception and this room had a bathroom directly opposite.

The service had two registered managers who shared the management responsibilities. 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. At this inspection we were assisted by one of the registered managers and this person has been referred to as ‘The Registered Manager’ throughout the report.

At the last inspection carried out on the 18 August 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

We carried out this inspection as part of our routine schedule of inspections and to check that people were still receiving a good standard of care and support.

Risks to people had been assessed and risk assessments were in place. Staffing levels were maintained at an appropriate level to support people safely. There were safe recruitment practices followed. There was a policy and procedure regarding medicines and these were managed safely.

People told us they felt safe at Lordington Park and no one we spoke with had any concerns regarding the safety of people who used the service. There were policies and procedures regarding the safeguarding of adults. Staff had received training and were aware of the procedures to follow if they considered someone was at risk of abuse.

Each person had a care plan which gave guidance to staff on the support people needed and how this should be provided.

Staff received training to enable them to support people effectively and there were opportunities for them to study for additional qualifications. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff had received training in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA)) 2005 and associated legislation.

The CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. We found the provider to be meeting the requirements of DoLS. The registered manager and staff were guided by the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and associated regulations.

People told us the food provided was good. Staff supported them to have sufficient to eat and drink and to maintain a healthy diet. People had access to a range of healthcare professionals.

We observed that the staff who supported people were kind and caring and this was confirmed by people who told us they were able to express their views and these were respected by the staff who supported them.

Care plans were person centered and included information regarding people’s personal preferences and their likes and dislikes. This informed staff on how people wished to be supported. Activities were tailored to people’s individual needs and choices. There was a clear complaints procedure which was available for people and a copy was displayed on the notice board at the home.

People’s needs were regularly reviewed and care plans were updated as required to ensure the care and support provided was up to date and meeting individual needs.

The provider and registered manager’s operated an open door policy and told us they welcomed feedback on any aspect of the service. There was a policy and procedure for quality assurance and the registered manager’s and staff carried out a range of audits and checks to monitor the quality of the service provided. People, relatives and staff were consulted and asked their views about the quality of the service provided.

18 August 2015

During a routine inspection

Lordington Park is a residential care home which is registered to provide accommodation for 18 older people, some of whom were living with mild dementia. The home provides accommodation over two floors and there is a lift available to access the first floor. On the day of our visit there were 16 people living at Lordington Park. There were a total of 18 care staff, two domestic staff and the two registered managers who provided support for people.

The service had two registered managers who shared the management responsibilities. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe with the home’s staff. Relatives had no concerns about the safety of people. There were policies and procedures regarding the safeguarding of adults and staff knew what action to take if they thought anyone was at risk of potential harm.

Risk assessments were in place to protect people from any identified risks and help keep them safe. There were also risk assessments in place to help keep people safe in the event of an unforeseen emergency such as fire or flood.

Thorough recruitment processes were in place for newly appointed staff to check they were suitable to work with people. There were sufficient numbers were of staff to meet people’s needs safely. People told us there were enough staff on duty and records and staff confirmed this.

People told us the food at the home was good and they were offered a choice at mealtimes.

People were supported to take their medicines as directed by their GP. Records showed that medicines were obtained, stored, administered and disposed of safely.

The CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. Whilst no-one living at the home was currently subject to DoLS, we found the registered manager understood when an application should be made and how to submit one. We found the provider to be meeting the requirements of DoLS. There were no restrictions imposed on people and they were able to make individual decisions for themselves. The registered manager and staff were guided by the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) regarding best interests decisions should anyone be deemed to lack capacity.

Each person had a plan of care which provided the information staff needed to provide effective support to people. Staff received training to help them meet people’s needs. Staff received an induction and regular supervision including monitoring of staff performance. Staff were supported to develop their skills by through additional training such as National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) or care diplomas. All staff completed an induction before working unsupervised. People were well supported and relatives said staff were knowledgeable about their family member’s care needs.

People’s privacy and dignity were respected. Staff had a caring attitude towards people. We saw staff smiling and laughing with people and offering support. There was a good rapport between people and staff.

The registered manager operated an open door policy and welcomed feedback on any aspect of the service. There was a stable staff team who said that communication in the home was good and they always felt able to make suggestions. They confirmed management were open and approachable.

The provider had a policy and procedure for quality assurance. The registered managers completed weekly, monthly and quarterly checks and audits to monitor the quality of the service provided to ensure the delivery of high quality care.

People and staff were able to influence the running of the service and make comments and suggestions about any changes, such as at regular meetings with staff and people.

10 September 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three of the 16 people who lived at Lordington Park. People told us they were very happy with the care and services provided to them. One person said, "The staff are very kind and gentle. The food is very good." Another person told us, "There is a lovely atmosphere here, it is very calm. I would entirely recommend this place."

We also spoke with two relatives who were visiting the care home. When asked for their opinion of Lordington Park, one relative commented, 'This is somewhere where residents are happy to think of as home.'

We spoke with two members of staff, who were on duty. We found that they had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities.

We observed people being served the main meal of the day. We saw that the care staff on duty knew what support and encouragement people needed to maintain their independence whist ensuring they had enough to eat.

We also gathered evidence of people's experiences of the service by looking at a selection of records. This included care records, records of food provided, staff rotas and records of complaints that had been received. We found that care records provided care staff with appropriate information to follow with regard to the delivery of care to ensure individual needs had been met safely. They also demonstrated that people had given consent to the care they had received. Records we looked at confirmed that people accommodated were not risk of malnourishment or dehydration. Staff rotas demonstrated staffing levels were sufficient to meet the needs of people. We also found that the provider had in place a system for recording and investigating any complaint that had been made.

The expert by experience spoke with six people about what it was like to live at Lordington Park. They asked for people's views about the care they received, and the food and activities provided. The feedback from the expert by experience was positive. For example they reported, "The standard of care, the furniture and furnishings, the cleanliness and 'feel' are all excellent."

30 August 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four people who have been accommodated at Lordington Park. We also spoke with a relative who was visiting the service. They told us about their experiences when they were admitted. They confirmed that someone visited them in order to discuss their needs and how they would be met.

They told us about the care and support they had received and confirmed they were very satisfied. One person told us, 'The care staff are always more than willing to help me.' Another person informed us that the care and support was very much in line with their expectations.

We also met and spoke with the relatives of a person who had recently died. They were visiting to say goodbye and thank you to the manager and her staff. They wanted to speak to us as well. They were very complementary about the care provided and commented that Lordington Park had been, 'like home from home.'

People we spoke with told us they felt safe. They confirmed that they found care staff were competent and skilled when providing for their needs. They also confirmed that the providers often spoke to them to ensure they were satisfied with the service provided. We were informed they found the providers were approachable and their views about the service had been taken into account.