Archived: Valley Lodge Care Home with Nursing

The purpose of this visit was to check the provider was now meeting the required essential standards of quality and safety.

On the day of our visit to Valley Lodge there were 38 people living there.

We found that there had been improvements in all of the areas we reviewed. We saw that new documentation had been introduced which had improved the recording of best interest decisions for people who lacked capacity. We also saw that the issues related to infection control had been addressed through a programme of refurbishment and improved monitoring.

In respect of the two warning notices we saw that the medication processes were being checked on a daily basis which had reduced the incidence of errors considerably. In addition care plans and guidance for staff had been re-written to give greater clarity. In respect of care and welfare the recording of information within care plans had improved and this had had a positive effect on the care delivered throughout the home. The assessment of people living at the home had also improved, and assessments from other professionals were also being used.

Some people we spoke with were happy with their care at the home. One person told us, "It suits me most of the time. Some of the staff are lovely.' Another person told us, "The activity lady here is really good." Other people we spoke with told us they had to wait for their care and were not happy with this.

We found that although people's needs were assessed and that care plans were in place, some important information was missing and some risks that could affect the person were not properly assessed and managed. We found that that aspects of care was inadequate, for example where people were at risk of poor nutrition or hydration or susceptible to pressure ulcers. We also saw that consent was not always being properly obtained for people's care and treatment at the home.

We found that despite having two outbreaks of infection within the last nine months people were not adequately protected from the risk of infection at Valley Lodge. We also found that some parts of the home were managing medication safely but in other areas medicines were not administered and recorded in a way that protected people from the risk of harm.

We saw that equipment for people's care and treatment was adequate to protect people from risk.

We saw that staff numbers were adequate to provide people's care. There was a complaints procedure was in place and that people knew how to raise concerns at Valley Lodge.

We found that arrangements for the ordering, storage, administration and recording of medication records were not adequate and that people may not always be receiving their prescribed medication correctly. We also had concerns that equipment at the home was not always suitable and safe to use

Although people's needs were assessed, that information in their care plans and risk assessments did not always ensure the delivery of safe, appropriate care. People were not always asked for consent to their care and treatment.

Two people told us that sometimes there were not enough staff to help people to go up and down stairs, get a drink, or to the toilet when they wanted to. Another person told us they thought their care would be better if they had, 'one more staff member on each shift, because people are physically dependent.' Staffing levels in two areas of the home were suitable to ensure people received suitable care in a timely manner. The staffing levels provided on the first floor for people with nursing needs did not ensure that people's needs were met.