We inspected Prideaux Lodge on the 14 and 15 October 2015 it was an unannounced inspection which meant the provider and staff did not know we were coming. Prideaux Lodge provides accommodation and care for up to 16 older people, respite care is also offered, although at the time of our inspection there was no one on residing at the home on respite. On the day of our inspection 12 older people were living at the home aged between 69 and 99. People had various long term health care needs; this included some people living with dementia. Other conditions impacted on people’s mobility which may mean people are at risk from falls.
Although a registered manager was not in post the service had an acting manager who was in the process of undertaking registration at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service and shares the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law with the provider. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the time of our inspection the provider had been operating the service for 12 months and this was the provider’s first inspection. Throughout our inspection, people spoke positively about Prideaux Lodge. Comments included, “Really lovely place to live, like a hotel” and, “I’m happy living here.” However, we identified a number of areas that required improvement.
The provider had not ensured some environmental risks related to emergency evacuation had been fully considered. This included fire exit doors which had coded locked bolts on.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. The provider had not ensured that proper authorisation procedures had been followed in regard to restricting some people’s liberty.
Although staff we observed and spoke to were knowledgeable about their roles most staff had not completed their mandatory training. This meant the provider could not be assured all staff was up-to-date with their knowledge.
Care staff led most activities within the service. The provider had employed a part time activities co-ordinator, we saw that during the times they worked the activity sessions attracted more people and care staff were better placed to support people who required support assistance.
Although it was evident the new acting manager had made improvements in systems and processes in many aspects of the service there remained areas where the service was not consistently well led. The audit process was established but not routinely being undertaken in most areas. DoLS applications had not been undertaken in a timely manner. Staff supervisions were behind the schedule the acting manager had planned.
There were enough staff to look after people. We saw people were responded to and supported effectively by staff. Recruitment procedures were in place to ensure staff employed were of good character.
Meal times were enjoyed by people. One person said, “Always plenty of good food on offer.”
People had access to appropriate healthcare professional and staff told us how they would contact the GP if they had concerns about people’s health
People were looked after by staff who knew them well. Staff were kind, caring and treated people with respect and protected their dignity and promoted their independence.
Care plans were reviewed and updated regularly and people told us they felt involved in their care.
Staff told us they felt well supported by the acting manager and provider.
People told us they would be confident to raise any concerns or complaints with the staff, management or provider. .
We found breaches in Regulations. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.