The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Spring Lane Residential Home

168 Spring Lane, Lambley, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG4 4PE (0115) 967 0341

Provided and run by:
Spring Lane Nursing Home (Lambley) Limited

All Inspections

26 September 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried out a responsive inspection because we received information of concern from the Nottinghamshire County Council Adult Social Care, Health and Public Protection Department and from the manager of the home that suggested people may have received unsafe or unsuitable care, treatment and support.

There were 37 people living at the service when we visited. We used a number of different methods to help us understand their experiences. We observed care practice, we spoke with five people who use the service. We also spoke with the provider, the manager and two care staff.

Following the inspection on 26 September 2012 we decided to issue a notice of proposal to cancel the providers registration. However, further concerns regarding the safety of people who used the service then came to light and we inspected again on the 05 October 2012. Our report from our visit on 05 October 2012 will show the actions we have taken.

5 October 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with six people who use the service, two visitors, the provider and staff. We used different methods to help us understand the experiences of people using the service. The visitors said they were satisfied with the care provided and pleased that monitoring visits were taking place. One said 'some of the staff are approachable and they let me know if there are any problems."

During our observations we saw that staff did not always show an understanding that people with dementia may communicate strongly using behaviour because they can no longer verbalise their thoughts and wishes. During our observations we saw that people did not receive appropriate and timely support from staff with their everyday care needs.

Respect and dignity in care was not always promoted on a personal level and was not shown toward the care of people, people's belongings and their accommodation.

Following the inspection on 05 October 2012 further serious concerns regarding the safety of people who use the service came to light. This led us to apply to Nottingham Magistrates Court under Section 30 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 for an order immediately cancelling the registration of the provider. This application was heard on 09 October 2012. The order was granted on the grounds that there would be a serious risk to a person's life, health or well being. This report shows the judgements we had made prior to the grant of the order.

31 August and 4 September 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We carried out a scheduled inspection over two days on 31 August 2012 and on 04 September 2012. We followed up on the compliance actions we made at our previous inspection on 10 May 2012. We were also responding to information of concern we had received about the provision of a choice of nutritionally balanced diets for older people and standards of cleanliness in specific areas of the home.

The local authority had suspended their contract with the provider until key standards improve. A new manager had been in post since July 2012 and stated she did not want to admit any other people into the service until standards of care and welfare improved. We asked the provider to confirm to us in writing that they would not arrange any further admissions until improvements at the home had been made.

There were 37 people living at the service when we visited. We used a number of different methods to help us understand their experiences. We spoke with three people who use the service and seven relatives. We also spoke with the provider, the new manager who has been in post since July 2012 and care staff. We received information and feedback from visiting health and social care professionals.

One person said, 'I'm confident [their relative] receives the care she needs and is safe here.' Another person said, 'Standards have dropped,' but they were impressed by the care shown by some of the staff.

6 August 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with four people using the service. They told us there were enough staff to meet their needs at all times. One person told us, 'You get the help when you need it.' However, other evidence did not support all of these comments. Another person told us, 'There are times when they could do with an extra one', but also said, 'I've had no problem'.

People using the service told us they did not have to wait a long time for assistance and staff responded quickly to buzzers. One person told us, 'All I have to do is pull the cord and they'll come running.' They told us staff were well trained. One person told us, 'They know what they're doing.'

10 May 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We spoke with three people who were using the service and used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of other people who had complex needs and so were not able to tell us themselves. We looked at records of the comments made by people using the service who had attended meetings with the staff and at the analysis of quality audit questionnaires.

The people we spoke with said they were happy with the quality of the services they received. They liked the staff and the activities.

One person said of living at the service, "I can't fault it." Another person said, They [the staff] never grumble, they're always cheerful."

14 February 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

There were 51 people living at the service when we visited on 14 February 2012 in response to concerns made directly to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). We visited again on 15 February 2012 to complete our review of the service.

In addition to the concerns received by CQC, the Nottinghamshire County Council was also undertaking a series of visits to the home in response to safeguarding alerts and concerns they had received. The safeguarding allegations made to the council were still under investigation when this report was written and we could not therefore report on their findings.

We spoke with five people who lived at the service, nine staff and with others who had regular contact with the home to ask for their comments and observations. We spent time in the company of people, whose communication skills had been affected by dementia, observing their experience of care and assessing the quality of support they received.

The feedback we received about people's experience of life at the home was mixed. We were told, 'I have my own routine and the staff know what I like to do' and, 'The majority of staff are understanding.' However we were also told that some people did not feel involved in making decisions about their care and support and that some staff could be, 'Impatient' and, 'Rushed' and did not always treat them with respect.

4 October 2011

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We visited the home to find out what improvements the registered provider had made to the service since our last visit on 22 June 2011.

There were 58 people living at the service when we visited on 04 October 2011. We spoke with six residents, two staff and with relatives and others who have regular contact with the home to ask for their comments and observations. We spent time in the company of people whose communication skills had been affected by dementia, observing their experience of care and assessing the quality of support they received.

We were told that people did not always feel involved in making decisions about their care and support. We were also told that some improvements had been made in the way staff treated people who live at the service.

Nottinghamshire County Council also visited the home on 04 October 2011 to observe practice following a safeguarding adults alert. At the time of this report safeguarding allegations made to the Council were still under investigation and we cannot therefore report on their findings.

A CQC pharmacy inspector visited on 12 October 2011 to check how medicines were being managed and their findings are also included in this report.

The manager of the home was not registered with the Care Quality Commission when we visited.

22 June 2011

During a routine inspection

There were 57 people living at the service when we visited on 22 June 2011. We spoke with six residents, two staff and with relatives and others who have regular contact with the home to ask for their comments and observations. We spent time in the company of people whose communication skills had been affected by dementia, observing their experience of care and assessing the quality of support they received.

We were told that people did not always feel involved in making decisions about their care and support. We were also told that some staff were intolerant and did not always treat people with kindness and respect and we saw direct evidence of this.

Some people were very positive about the care and support provided. They said they were pleased with the dedication of some staff who were 'gentle and caring.' We were also told that some staff were 'approachable' and 'helpful'.

Nottinghamshire County Council also visited the home on 22 June 2011 to interview staff following a safeguarding adults alert. At the time of this report safeguarding allegations made to the Council are still under investigation and we cannot therefore report on their findings.

The new manager of the home had been in post less than a week when the review visit took place.