Archived: Lambton House

Mental Capacity assessments were carried out if there were concerns about someone who used the service. When a person did not have the capacity to consent to their care and treatment the provider told us they spoke with people's family or representatives to obtain consent for care.

Care plans were written in a personalised way with details about individual's needs and preferences.

Staff had developed positive relationships with individuals, and there was a relaxed and happy atmosphere in the home.

We were told the home continually monitored people's needs and risk assessments were carried to ensure ongoing staffing levels were appropriate for the people living in the home and the level of care they required.

The provider had introduced a new and comprehensive set of audits to the home. These audits covered areas such as portable appliance testing, smoke detectors, room temperature and water temperatures. There were different inspection sheets for each area of the home like bedrooms and the kitchen. The audits were to ensure high standards were met in and around the home.

We found people were generally happy although there were limited activities and some people said they were bored. Some people were concerned that if they wanted to participate in activities they had to go to the day centre within the home.

We saw staff at the home were respectful and courteous to people who lived there. Staff encouraged people to be independent and were knowledgeable about people's requirements.

People's special needs in relation to religious preferences were not sought and decisions were being made on behalf of people without seeking their opinions. We also found people were deemed to be unable to make decisions without any assessments being carried out to establish capacity.

Although the home was clean and tidy the provider had failed to act on the results of the inspections from the Primary Care Trust's infection control nurse meaning there was an increased risk of infection.

People's records were not detailed and did not hold relevant information, like visits from dentist, chiropodists and opticians.