• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Marlborough House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

54 Kirkley Cliff Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0BF (01502) 501284

Provided and run by:
J & S Clarkson

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

17 July 2015

During a routine inspection

Marlborough House provides care and support for up to 12 people with a learning disability. At the time of our visit there were 12 people living at Marlborough House.

The inspection was unannounced and took place on the 17 July 2015.

The home had a registered manager in place. 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 requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about the service is run.

People told us they felt safe living at Marlborough House and that the staff helped them to feel safe and secure in their home. There were systems in place to reduce the risks to people and protect them from harm.

The service had in place robust recruitment procedures which ensured that staff had the appropriate skills, background and qualifications for the role. There were enough suitably trained and supported staff available to support people during our inspection.

There were effective systems in place to ensure that medicines were stored, managed and administered safely. People received appropriate support to take their medicines.

Staff told us they felt supported by the management of the service and that the training they received provided them with a good understanding of topics such as the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). People and their relatives spoke highly of the staff.

The service was complying with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the DoLS. Appropriate DoLS applications had been made where required and assessments of people’s capacity were completed appropriately. People were supported to make decisions independently and were encouraged to develop independent living skills.

People were encouraged and supported to take part in many activities they enjoyed, within the service and outside of the service.

People told us the staff were caring and kind towards them.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and to identify shortfalls or areas for improvement. There was an open culture at the service. People using the service, their relatives and staff were given the opportunity to express their views and these were acted on by the service. There was a complaints procedure in place and people told us they knew how to make a complaint if they weren’t happy.

2 June 2014

During a routine inspection

We met ten people who used the service and spoke with six of these people about their views of the service they were provided with. We also spoke with two people's relatives, the manager and three staff members. We looked at three people's care records. Other records viewed included staff training records, health and safety checks, meeting minutes and satisfaction questionnaires completed by the people who used the service. We considered our inspection findings to answer questions we always ask; Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service well-led?

This is a summary of what we found;

Is the service safe?

When we arrived at the service a staff member looked at our identification and asked us to sign in the visitor's book. This meant that the appropriate actions were taken to ensure that the people who used the service were protected from others who did not have the right to access their home.

People told us they felt safe living in the service and that they would speak with the staff if they had concerns. One person said, "I would tell the staff if I was worried."

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. While no applications had needed to be submitted, discussions with the manager showed that they understood when an application should be made, and how to submit one. Staff were provided with training in safeguarding vulnerable adults from abuse. This meant that staff were provided with the information that they needed to ensure that people were safeguarded.

Is the service effective?

People told us that they felt that they were provided with a service that met their needs. One person said, "They (staff) have helped me a lot, I am happy."

People's care records showed that care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. The records were regularly reviewed and updated which meant that staff were provided with up to date information about how people's needs were to be met.

Staff were provided with the training that they needed to enable them to meet the needs of the people who used the service in a safe and effective manner.

Is the service caring?

The staff interacted with people living in the service in a caring, respectful and professional manner. People told us that the staff treated them with respect and kindness. One person said, "They (staff) are lovely people."

People using the service completed satisfaction questionnaires. Where shortfalls or concerns were raised these were addressed.

Is the service responsive?

People using the service were provided with the opportunity to participate in activities which interested them. People's choices were taken into account and listened to.

People's care records showed that where concerns about their wellbeing had been identified the staff had taken appropriate action to ensure that people were provided with the support they needed. This included seeking support and guidance from health care professionals, including a doctor and district nurse.

Is the service well-led?

The service worked well with other agencies and services to make sure people received their care in a joined up way.

The service had a quality assurance system and records seen by us showed that identified shortfalls were addressed promptly. As a result the quality of the service was continuingly improving.

The manager had not registered with CQC, however, they told us that they were in the process of making an application with us.

29 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with six of the 11 people who used the service about their experiences of the care and support were provided with. People told us that they were happy living in the service. One person said, 'I am happy living here.' Another person said, 'I love it here.' Another said, 'I am happy.'

People told us that they chose what they wanted to do in their lives and that the staff listened to them and acted on what they said. They told us about the activities that they chose to do in the community and in the service. One person said, 'I always choose what I want to do.' Another person said, 'The staff listen to me.'

People told us that the staff treated them with respect and kindness. One person said, 'They (staff) are all lovely.' Another person said, 'The staff here are good.' This was confirmed in our observations during our inspection. We saw that the staff were attentive to people's needs and they interacted with people in a caring, respectful and professional manner.

We looked at the care records of four people who used the service and found that people experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights.

We saw the service's complaints records which showed that concerns and complaints were responded to in a timely manner.

We looked around the service and found it to be homely, clean and well maintained throughout.

3 September 2012

During a routine inspection

During our visit six of the 11 people who used the service were on holiday and one person was at work. Four people were present in the service during our visit.

We spoke with two people who used the service. They told us that the staff listened and acted on what they said. One person said "They (staff) treat me good."

People said that their choices about their lives were listened to. They told us about the activities programme which they enjoyed.

One person said "I am happy living here." Another person said "I like it here, I get to choose what I want to do."

12 January 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service who told us that they were happy living in the home. They told us that their choices were always listened to in areas such as what they wanted to eat, the activities that they participated in and how they wanted to be supported.

People were complimentary about the staff who worked in the home and the other people that they lived with. One person said 'they are like a second family'. During our visit we saw that the staff were attentive to people's needs and they interacted with people in a caring and respectful manner.

People told us that their independence was respected. A person said that they liked keeping their bedroom tidy and that the staff assisted when they needed help. Another person told us that they prepared their own food and that they were assisted by the staff. This was confirmed during our visit, we saw two people preparing their own lunch, the staff were present and they responded to requests for assistance.

The people who were spoken with told us that there were several activities that they participated in the community including attendance to day services, clubs and shopping. They also said that there was a range of in house activities including games and disco nights. During the morning of our visit to the service we saw several people preparing to go to their day services. Staff complimented a person on their appearance and they reminded people to take their packed lunch and have breakfast before they left.