Archived: Edingley Lodge Care Home

Highfields Care Home is owned and managed by Highfields Care Home Limited. It is situated in the village of Edingley in Nottinghamshire and offers accommodation for to up to 49 older people. On the day of our inspection there were 37 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

¿ People and relatives said Highfields Care Home provided safe, personalised care. A person said, “Nothing is too much trouble for the staff who look after me beautifully. Everything about this home is good.”

¿ Staff knew each person well, including their likes and dislikes, their preferences, how they wanted to be supported. A relative said, “The carers put [person’s] makeup and jewellery on, it’s a little thing that means a lot.”

¿ Staff continually interacted with people and relatives. They greeted each person and relative with a smile and ask them how they were. Their friendly and inclusive approach contributed to the welcoming atmosphere in the home.

¿ People felt they had a purpose at the home. For example, a person was responsible for feeding the birds and sweeping up leaves, as they had done when they were in their own home. Another person had befriended a less able person and enjoyed helping to support them.

¿ Staff encouraged people to be creative. The registered manager said there was evidence this could improve the quality of people’s lives in their later years. An activities co-ordinator said, “Coming in to the home is the beginning of a new chapter for people and we want to look after their mind, body and soul.”

¿ The home was spacious and accessible throughout to people with limited mobility. There were a range of communal areas including a quiet lounge where people and relatives could meet in private.

¿ The registered manager involved people when improvements were made to the home. For example, the home had a new sensory garden which was designed in conjunction with the people using the service to meet their needs.

¿ The registered manager was kind, caring and efficient. People and relatives spoke highly of her and said she was approachable and helpful. Staff said she gave them excellent support and guidance. A staff member said, “She is always there for all of us, residents, relatives and staff, and wants the home to be the best it can be.”

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 23 July 2016).`

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

People told us they felt safe living at the home and staff knew how to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risks to people’s safety, such as the risk of falling, were appropriately assessed and well managed. The building was well maintained and the required safety checks were carried out.

There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff and people received care and support in a timely manner. The provider ensured appropriate checks were carried out on staff before they started work. People received their medicines as prescribed and they were safely stored.

People were cared for effectively by staff who felt well supported. Further training was planned so that all staff would receive the training relevant to their role. People were asked to provide consent to the care they received. The Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) was used appropriately to protect people who were not able to make their own decisions about the care they received.

People were provided with sufficient quantities of food and drink and most people told us they enjoyed the food. Staff ensured that people had access to any healthcare professionals they required and followed any guidance that was provided by them.

There were positive and caring relationships between staff and people. People and their relatives were able to be fully involved in planning their care and making day to day decisions about what they wanted to do. People were treated in a dignified and respectful manner by staff. Many people’s bedroom doors were left open which restricted the amount of privacy they could have.

People received care that was responsive to their changing needs and staff knew people well. There were effective systems in place to ensure that staff were made aware of any changes to people’s planned care. There was a range of activities provided and people told us they enjoyed taking part. Some people felt their opportunities to spend time outdoors were limited and felt a more secure outdoor seating area would be beneficial to them. People knew how to complain and any complaints received were appropriately responded to.

There was a positive, open and transparent culture in the home, people and staff were encouraged to speak up and their comments were listened to. There were different ways people could provide feedback about the service they received, such as a satisfaction survey and regular meetings. The quality monitoring systems used by the registered manager ensured that any areas for improvement were identified and acted upon.

We found people gave consent to their care and treatment and received care and support that met their needs. A person told us, 'I cannot think of anything they (staff) don't let me decide for myself. I make the decisions about what care I have."

We found the equipment used was safe, properly maintained and suitable for the purpose used for. A person told us, 'They keep my walking frame clean for me.'

We found the staff team were supported through training and the provider assessed and monitored the quality of the service. A person told us, 'I would say they (staff) have had good training. They are very helpful and pleasant staff.' A relative told us, 'The staff are great and the manager is very approachable, she will always sit and listen and reassure us about what is happening.'