The inspection took place on 07 March 2017. The inspection was unannounced.Star Care Lodge is registered to provide accommodation with nursing or personal care for up to 13 people. There were five people living at the home on the day of our inspection. One of those people was staying away from the home on the day of our inspection.
Star Care Lodge supported people who had mental health issues. Most people had lived at the home for less than two years. People had varying care and support needs. Some required more support than others but most people were quite independent, able to go out alone and requiring prompts to attend to personal care needs.
Star Care Lodge was quite spacious with plenty of communal areas for people to spend time together if they wished. Situated in a residential area close to Gillingham town centre and opposite a park, the home had an enclosed, private back garden with furniture to sit out on when the weather was fine.
There was a registered manager based at the service. 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 last inspected this service on 12 December 2015 when we found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. These breaches were in relation to Regulation 12, Safe care and treatment, Regulation 17, Good governance and Regulation 18, Staffing. The provider had failed to manage people’s medicines safely. An effective quality assurance system was not in place. The provider failed to provide staff with appropriate support, training and professional development through supervision and appraisal systems. We asked the provider to take action to meet the regulations. At this inspection we found the provider had made all the necessary improvements to address the breaches from the previous inspection.
Following the last inspection the provider sent an action plan detailing the action they planned to take to improve in order to meet the regulations. We found evidence that the provider had addressed all the areas in their action plan to improve the service provided.
Medicines were now managed safely. All medicine administration recording systems were kept in good order by staff. The ordering, storage and returns of medicines were managed and documented well.
The registered manager now had a good system in place to ensure she met with staff on a regular basis to carry out one to one supervision. Staff were supported to increase their skills through the training required to be able to meet the needs of people living at the service. Staff were managed well and had the opportunity to engage in their own personal development.
The registered manager and the provider had developed a robust quality monitoring system to ensure the quality and safety of the service provided. Feedback was sought from people, their family members or friends, staff, and others involved such as health and social care professionals, to gain their views of the service. The registered manager and the provider used the information gathered to make improvements to Star Care Lodge and the service they provided.
The provider and registered manager had suitable processes in place to safeguard people from different forms of abuse. Staff had been trained in safeguarding people and in the provider’s whistleblowing policy. They were confident that they could raise any matters of concern with the registered manager and these would be acted on. Staff knew they could go outside of their organisation and raise concerns with the local authority safeguarding team if necessary.
Risks were assessed and managed well. Individual risks were identified and control measures were in place to help to keep people safe. Environmental risks, such as within the premises and grounds, were assessed and management plans in place to ensure people, staff and visitors were kept safe.
Records showed that the maintenance of the premises and servicing of equipment was managed well. This included fire safety records. Weekly fire alarm tests and regular fire evacuation drills were carried out, helping to keep people safe.
The provider and registered manager had robust recruitment practices in place. Applicants were assessed as suitable for their job roles. All staff received induction training at the start of their employment and had to pass a probationary period to show they were suitable for the role.
There were sufficient staff to meet the needs of the people currently living at the service. The registered manager had a plan in place to recruit more staff when more people moved in.
The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The provider and staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
People were encouraged and supported to be as independent as possible. They were involved in all aspects of the home, from planning and cooking meals to choosing what activities and interests they wanted to take part in. People were able to come and go as they pleased.
People had choice and control over food planning and preparation. Where people had specific nutritional support needs, these were assessed and managed well. People were supported to access the assistance of health care professionals to be able to maintain their physical and mental well-being.
People were fully involved in the assessment and planning of their care and support, deciding how they wanted staff to support them. Their relatives were also involved where appropriate and if people wanted this.
The home had a pleasant and friendly atmosphere where people were comfortable and confident in their environment. Staff were happy in their work and were chatty and relaxed, proud to discuss their work.
A ‘service users’ handbook was given to people when they first moved into the service. Included in this was the information about how to make a complaint. People knew how to complain and were given information how to do this and who to should they need to.
People and staff spoke highly of the registered manager. The registered manager and staff said the provider visited regularly and was supportive and approachable.