Archived: The Lakes Care Centre

Updated 13 April 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 undertaken by 2 inspectors, a specialist advisor, a medicines inspector and an Expert by Experience over the course of 3 days. 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

The Lakes Care Centre 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. The Lakes Care Centre 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post since January 2023 and was intending to apply to register.

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. This included notifications the service is required to submit regarding any significant events happening at the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used information gathered through multi agency meetings held, and updates from the provider about their progress with their improvement action plan. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people living in the home and 4 relatives. We also spoke with 15 staff including; care staff, activities coordinator, maintenance operative, clinical lead, cook, consultants, the manager and the provider. We had a tour of the building with the manager. We reviewed a range of records, including care records, records relating to medicines, staff recruitment, training and supervision, building maintenance, cleaning and equipment checks, accident and incidents and safeguarding logs and policies and procedures for infection control. Also, a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures were reviewed.

We observed how staff provided support for people, to help us better understand their experiences of the care they received. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We continued to review evidence and seek further clarification during and following the inspection. We were sent further information for consid

Updated 13 April 2023

About the service

The Lakes Care Centre is a care home. It is registered to provide personal and nursing care for up to 77 people aged 65 and over, across 3 units. At the time of our inspection 1 unit was closed. 1 unit provides nursing care and residential care, whilst the other unit provides residential care. At the time of our inspection there were 46 people using the service.

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

Medicines were not always managed safely. We found significant improvements of the premises had been made, however all required checks, repairs and maintenance to the buildings were not yet fully completed. Systems in place for the monitoring and oversight of the service were not yet fully embedded.

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.

Risks to individuals were identified and well managed. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people’s needs and all required pre employment checks were being undertaken. Staff had received training and knew how to identify and report safeguarding concerns. Systems in place helped to protect people from the risks associated with Covid-19 and other infectious diseases. There were no restrictions on people having visitors to the home.

Staff received appropriate training and supervision. People’s nutritional needs were being met. People told us the food had improved. We saw drinks were readily available for people. The kitchen was awarded a 5-star food hygiene rating by the food standards agency.

People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff supported people with patience and compassion. People spoke positively about the staff. One person said, “The staff are brilliant. They go beyond the call of duty.”

Care records were person-centred. They gave detailed information about what was important to and for the person. There had been improvements in activities on offer, both within the home and wider community. People spoke very positively about the activities on offer. The was a system in place for managing and responding to complaints. Advanced decisions about resuscitation and end of life care plans were in place where required.

People and their relatives were positive about the recent changes, and how the home was now run and organised. Staff spoke very positively about the improvements the consultants had put in place and the difference this had made.

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 inadequate (published 17 November 2022). At this inspection we found the provider remained in breach of regulations. The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

This service has been in Special Measures since 15 February 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

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.

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Lakes Care Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to medicines, premises and governance at this inspection. We took enforcement action and placed conditions on the providers registration.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this 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 continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.