Background to this inspection
Updated
12 February 2022
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 21 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service one day's notice of the inspection.
Updated
12 February 2022
About the service
Avandale Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to 12 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 48 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
After the last inspection, the provider removed the provision of nursing care and a significant number of people were moved to alternative accommodation. This decision was made, in part, due to difficulties the provider had experienced in recruiting and maintaining a consistent nursing team for the home which was impacting on the quality of the service being provided.
Recording of accidents and incidents and reporting of potential safeguarding concerns had improved. Systems were in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people. Care plans and risk assessments were regularly reviewed, people received their medicines safely and people could share their views on the service being provided at Avandale Lodge.
The provider had ensured that they had followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to assess people’s ability to consent to decisions about their care. 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. People were offered choices and involved in decision making relating their care.
People’s care plans contained detailed person-centred information about them to ensure staff could meet their needs and preferences. Activities to occupy and interest people within the home had improved and the communication needs of people were known which ensured information could be presented to people in the most appropriate format.
Since our last inspection, a new registered manager was appointed to work in the home. Staff and relatives spoke positively of the new registered manager. We also received positive feedback from the local authority about improvements that had been made in recent months.
Some improvements had been made to ensure the environment was appropriate for people living with dementia and further refurbishment plans were in place.
Staff were motivated to deliver a high standard of care. They were well trained and told us they felt more positive and supported in their role.
People had access to healthcare and the registered manager worked closely with other agencies to ensure successful outcomes were achieved.
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 02 January 2019) and there were multiple breaches of regulation including safeguarding people from the risk of abuse, ensuring people consented to care, providing person centred care and good governance. 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 improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.