Archived: Coniston Lodge

Updated 22 August 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Coniston Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

During our inspection we spoke with three people who used the service and four relatives. We spoke with the proprietor, registered manager and three care workers. We reviewed five peoples care files and checked their accuracy. We checked two staff files, medication records, management audits, meeting records and the complaints log. We walked around the building observing the safety and suitability of the environment and observing staff practice.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 22 August 2019

About the service

Coniston Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to seven older adults at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 10 people and provides care to some people living with dementia. Accommodation is provided in one two storey building.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Records relating to risks to people had not always been completed or reviewed. Examples included risks associated with falls and trip hazards on the landing. We found no evidence that people had been harmed. Audits had not been regularly completed and therefore not identified areas requiring improvement found at our inspection.

People and their families described the care as safe and told us there were enough staff to meet their needs. Staff had been recruited safely, which included employment and criminal record checks. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their role in recognising and reporting any suspected abuse or poor practice. People had their medicine administered safely by trained staff. People were protected from preventable infections as staff followed safe infection control practices.

Pre-admission assessments had been completed which captured people’s care needs and lifestyle choices. Staff had completed an induction and received on-going training and support that enabled them to meet people’s care needs. Coniston Lodge worked with other professionals such as district nurses to enable effective outcomes for people. People had access to healthcare for both planned and emergency events. People had a well balanced diet; meals were home cooked and varied. The building and decoration enabled people independent access to private and social spaces inside and around the garden.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported did support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People and their families consistently spoke positively about their care. Staff were described as kind, caring, patient and thoughtful. Staff were knowledgeable about people and their past histories. People felt involved in decisions about their care. We observed people having their privacy, dignity and independence respected.

People received person centred care that reflected their wishes and lifestyle choices. Staff understood people’s individual communication skills. No complaints had been received since our last inspection, but people were aware of the complaints process and felt able to use it if needed. People had an opportunity to be involved in end of life planning which reflected any cultural or spiritual wishes.

The culture of Coniston Lodge was open and honest with visible leadership. People, families and the staff team felt involved and able to express their views. Legal reporting requirements to CQC and other statutory bodies was met.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (report published 25 February 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

We have found evidence the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well led sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.