Archived: Sennen Lodge

The home had a registered manager. 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.

We found people’s safety was compromised in some areas. There was no hand sink in the laundry as recommended by the Department of Health’s guidance on infection control. Peoples medicines records were not always recorded appropriately.

Relevant recruitment checks were conducted before staff started working at Sennen Lodge to make sure they were of good character and had the necessary skills. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and knew how to identify, prevent and report abuse. There were enough staff to keep people safe.

The risks to people were minimized through risk assessments and staff were aware of how to keep people safe and the information provided staff with clear guidelines to follow. There were plans in place for foreseeable emergencies.

Staff received regular support and received regular one to one sessions of supervision to discuss areas of development. Staff informed us they completed a wide range of training and felt it supported them in their job role. New staff completed an induction programme before being permitted to work unsupervised.

Staff sought consent from people before providing care and support. The ability of people to make decisions was assessed in line with legal requirements to ensure their rights were protected and their liberty was not restricted unlawfully. Decisions were taken in the best interests of people.

People received varied meals including a choice of fresh food and drinks. Staff were aware of people’s likes and dislikes and offered alternatives if people did not want the menu choice of the day. Staff were aware of people’s needs who had limited communication, to make sure their diet was healthy and balanced. People were able to access healthcare services.

People had personalised bedrooms with their own en suite; there was also a sensory room and a ball pit room.

People were cared for with kindness, compassion and sensitivity. Care plans provided comprehensive information about how people wished to receive care and support. This helped ensure people received personalised care in a way that met their individual needs.

People were supported and encouraged to make choices and had access to a wide range of activities. People also had the opportunity to go on individual holidays abroad in line with their interests and choice.

The provider sought feedback through the use of a quality assurance questionnaire and used the results to improve the service. The provider and registered manager used a series of audits to monitor the quality of the service.

A complaints procedure was in place. There were appropriate management arrangements in place and staff felt supported.

People's rights and well-being were protected as the provider understood and followed correct procedures to safeguard people who had been assessed as not having capacity to consent. The provider had effective systems in place for assessing, planning and delivering care and support. We observed appropriate and positive interactions between staff and people living in the home.

People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. Staff were trained and knowledgeable about the importance of medication and there were robust systems in place to check and monitor the appropriate administration of medicines.

Checks were carried out on essential equipment and the environment. There were effective recruitment and selection processes in place. The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive.