Archived: Lofthouse Grange and Lodge

Updated 15 April 2016

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Our inspection took place on 2 March 2016 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors, a specialist advisor in nursing and an expert by experience with experience of dementia care. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service.

Before our inspection we reviewed all data we had relating to Lofthouse Grange and Lodge, and contacted both the local authority and Healthwatch to ask if they had any information which we should consider in relation to our inspection. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. They did not provide any information of concern. We did not send a provider information request before this inspection. This is a form which asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During our visit we spoke with six people who used the service, two visiting relatives, eight members of staff, the care manager and registered manager. We made observations of the care and support people received and looked at all areas of the home. We looked in detail at the care records of seven people who used the service and other documentation relating to the management of the home.

Updated 15 April 2016

Our inspection took place on 2 March 2016 and was unannounced. At our inspection in April 2015 we found areas of the home to be unhygienic and dirty. This was a breach of Regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010, which relates to Regulation 12 Safe Care and Treatment of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

At this inspection we found the provider was no longer in breach of regulations relating to infection control and cleanliness. We saw the provider had followed their action plan and we found new flooring and furnishings in place. All areas of the home we looked at were clean and free from malodours.

Lofthouse Grange and Lodge is a purpose built residential care home for older people. The home provides accommodation for up to 88 people. On the day of our inspection there were 84 people using the service. The building is divided into two units; one accommodates older people with general care needs and the other provides care and support for people with a diagnosis of dementia or other mental health illness. The home is set in its own grounds with enclosed gardens and car parking is available.

There was a registered manager in post on the day of our inspection. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People who used the service told us they felt safe, and we found the provider had a number of systems and processes in place to promote safety. Staff received training in and understood their responsibilities in safeguarding of vulnerable adultsd. We found risks to individuals were well assessed and clear plans were in place to minimise these risks.

People, their relatives and staff told us they felt there were not always enough staff on duty. We saw the provider used a dependency tool to calculate how many staff were needed. The registered manager obtained a more robust dependency tool from the provider on the day of the inspection and said they would review staffing levels.

We saw evidence the provider had safer recruitment practices in place, and undertook background checks before new staff commenced work in the service.

The provider had systems in place to ensure the safe management of medicines.

We looked at records of training which evidenced staff undertook a range of training to support them in their roles, and we saw there was a plan in place to ensure mandatory training was refreshed at regular intervals. Staff told us they had a regular programme of supervision and appraisal which enabled them to discuss and receive feedback on their work.

People who used the service were well supported with their healthcare needs. We saw evidence of input from a range of health professionals and saw care plans contained detailed guidance to help staff support people to maintain good general health.

Care plans contained assessments of people’s capacity to make decisions in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Where people lacked capacity to make a decision we saw best interests decisions had been made and recorded. We saw staff offering people choices and people who used the service told us how they made choices in relation to their care and support.

Some people had approved Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) in place, and we saw any conditions had been documented in people’s care plans..

Care plans contained detailed information relating to people’s hydration and nutrition needs, which we saw were well met. People told us they liked the meals at the service, and we saw good support given to people who needed assistance to eat.

People told us staff were caring and respectful, and we saw evidence of this throughout the inspection.. Care plans contained detailed information about people’s individuals’ likes, dislikes and preferences which would enable staff to form caring relationships with people.

People told us the activity programme in the service had improved, and we spoke with activities co-ordinators who told us about how they planned and funded activities. We saw evidence people were supported to maintain links with local communities.

We looked at records of complaints and saw these were well managed in line with the provider’s policy. We also saw the service received regular compliments from people who used the service and their relatives.

The registered manager and provider worked well together to monitor the quality of the service and make improvements where needed. People who used the service, their relatives and staff were consulted in the running of the home through regular meetings.