Colton Lodges Care Home

Updated 16 June 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector, 1 assistant inspector, specialist advisors in medicines and governance and 1 expert by experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Colton Lodges Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Colton Lodge is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 4 May 2023 and ended on 11 May 2023. We visited the service on 4 and 10 May 2023.

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 and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 staff including the registered manager, area director, operations manager and care staff. We spoke with 10 people and 7 relatives about their views of the care provided. We reviewed the care records for 7 people, numerous medicines records, 4 staff recruitment and supervision files, records related to governance systems and processes and other documentation relevant to the running of the service.

Updated 16 June 2023

About the service

Colton Lodges Care Home is a care home providing personal care to 96 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The home provides support to older adults and people living with dementia. The home accommodates people on 4 separate units, including Newsam, Whitkirk, Elmet and Garforth.

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

Records were not always completed effectively. The registered manager and staff were open and honest. There was a positive staff and management culture that people living in the home and relatives had commented on. Staff were keen to learn and drive improvement to ensure people received the best possible care. Effective governance systems were in place to ensure oversight and monitoring of the home.

Systems were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Medicines were managed safely, and competency assessments carried out to monitor staff performances. Risks to people were managed by staff following appropriate risk assessments. The provider carried out assessments on the home to ensure people were safe to live there. We saw staff followed infection prevention and control guidance to minimise risks related to the spread of infection. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and staff were recruited safely. People were encouraged to visit the home and spend time with their loved ones.

People’s preferences and choices were being upheld. People were offered choices during mealtimes and enjoyed the food provided in the home. The home ensured people had access to health care professionals when required.

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

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 4 May 2020) and there was a breach of regulation 12 and 17.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found the provider had improved and they were no longer in breach of regulation 12 and 17.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced focused inspection of this service on 4 and 10 May 2023.

We received concerns in relation to the management of people's care needs. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has remained requires improvement. We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe, effective and well-led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Colton Lodges Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.