23 & 24 June 2015
During a routine inspection
This unannounced inspection of Lakeside View took place on 23 & 24 June 2015.
Lakeside View is a care home located in a residential area of Southport, near to the town centre. The aim of the service is to provide nursing care for people who are living with dementia and enduring mental health needs. All floors are accessed by a passenger lift and on the mezzanine level there is a stair lift. There is car parking space to the front of the home and a terraced garden.
A registered manager was in post. ‘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.’
Relatives told us they felt their family member was safe living at Lakeside View as they received a good standard of care and support.
The staff we spoke with were aware of what constituted abuse and how to report an alleged incident. Safeguarding training was on-going for all staff.
Our observations showed people were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who completed regular checks to ensure people’s safety, comfort and wellbeing.
We saw the necessary recruitment checks had been undertaken so that staff employed were suitable to work with vulnerable people.
Sufficient number of staff were employed to provide care and support to help keep people safe and to offer support in accordance with individual need.
We found medicines were administered safely to people. Medicines were subject to regular review by their GP as part of monitoring efficacy.
Care files seen showed staff had completed risk assessments to assess and monitor people’s health. These recorded staff actions to help keep people safe.
Systems were in place to maintain the safety of the home. This included health and safety checks of the equipment and building.
People at the home were supported by the staff and external health care professionals to maintain their health and wellbeing.
The manager provided us with a staff training plan and this showed staff received training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to support people. Staff told us they were supported through induction, on-going training and appraisal.
The manager informed us people who lived at Lakeside View needed support to make decisions about their daily life and care needs. Staff support was available to assist people to make key decisions regarding their daily life and care. Staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) for people who lacked capacity to make their own decisions. This however was not always fully evidenced in people’s care files to support the decisions made.
Staff supported people to live as independently as they could. We observed staff gaining people’s consent before assisting them with personal care, daily tasks or meals, for example.
People’s nutritional needs were monitored by the staff. Menus were available and people’s dietary requirements and preferences were taken into account.
People at the home articulated their needs and wishes in different ways and our observations showed staff understood and responded accordingly. Interactions between staff and people who lived at the home was caring, warm, gentle and respectful. Staff demonstrated a good knowledge of people’s individual care, their needs, choices and preferences. This helped to ensure people’s comfort and wellbeing.
People’s care needs were recorded in a plan of care and support was given in accordance with individual need.
There was a relaxed atmosphere with plenty of chat between the people who lived there and the staff. People were able to take part in social activities however the manager was looking to develop social arrangements to provide a more varied activities programme.
The provider had a complaints procedure and information about how to make a complaint was provided to people when they started using the service.
We received positive feedback about the manager from staff, people who lived at the home and relatives. Staff told us there was good staff team and everyone was focused on ensuring people got the best care possible.
Arrangements were in place to seek the opinions of people and their relatives, so they could provide feedback about the home. This included the provision of satisfaction surveys and meetings held at the home.
Systems were in place to monitor to assure the service and to improve practice. The manager provided us with good examples where changes had been made to better support people however these were not always recorded to evidence the actions taken.