Archived: Faringdon Lodge

Faringdon Lodge is a residential care home registered to provide personal care, support and accommodation for up to 28 people in one adapted building across two separate wings, each of which have separate adapted facilities. At the time of our inspection the care home accommodated 23 people, many of whom had dementia.

People’s experience of using this service:

We have found several concerns about the service. Staff understood how to identify abuse but they did not always follow procedures to report them. Medicines were administered safely but not always stored correctly. There were times that the service was short staffed. People’s care plans were not followed with regards to their bathing preferences. Staff inductions were not always recorded. The provider’s quality assurance systems were not always effective.

We have made one recommendation in the report about record keeping with regards to people’s capacity.

Risks to people were recorded. There were infection control measures in place.

People told us staff were experienced and knew how to do their jobs. Staff received training and supervision. People were supported to have maximum choice and control in their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were supported with their healthcare needs and the service worked with other agencies to the benefit of people. People’s needs were assessed. People enjoyed the food they were provided and were supported to eat and drink healthily.

People and their relatives told us they were treated well. Staff understood equality and diversity. People could express their views and be involved with choices around their care and treatment. People told us their privacy and dignity were respected and their independence promoted.

There were mixed views on the activities the service provided. People’s needs were recorded in their care plans and staff understood these needs. The service made information accessible to people with communication needs. People were able to make complaints and when doing so these were responded to appropriately by the service. The service was working with the local authority to make improvements to how they provided end of life care.

People told us they thought highly of the management team. The registered manager was responsive and wanted to improve the service to the benefit of people who lived there. People held meetings and were engaged with the service. People and relatives were able to complete surveys to assist with improving the service. The service completed audits to monitor the safety and care of people using the service.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good (report published on 7 March 2018)

Why we inspected: The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about short staffing and record keeping. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-Led sections of this full report.

Enforcement:

We have identified breaches in relation to incidents not being reported, short staffing, people not being bathed as per their care planned wishes and the service’s quality assurance systems at this inspection.

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 for 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 return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

Faringdon Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection

The home is a large converted property split into two units, Sandringham and Balmoral. In the Sandringham unit accommodation is arranged over two floors and there is a lift to assist people to access the upper floor. The home is registered for 28 people. This includes five double bedrooms. However, all rooms currently in use are used as single rooms which means the numbers of spaces is limited to 23.

This unannounced inspection took place on 18 December 2017. At the last inspection on 28 September 2015 the provider met all of the legal requirements we looked at and was rated good.

Faringdon Lodge is a traditional care home for older people, providing a reliable care service to older people. The care provided is valued by people using the service and relatives. Investment is needed to improve the décor and more thought and consideration about activity provision and dementia care. Otherwise this is a good service which has retained its good rating.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff understood their duty to protect the people in their care. Staff knew what to do in order to protect people from abuse and minimise potential risks to people’s health and welfare. Medicines were safely managed.

There was a suitable number of staff to meet people’s needs. People, and relatives, told us that they were happy and that staff provided safe and good care, showing respect and consideration to people.

People were supported to consent to care and the service operated in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Staff undertook training which helped them to carry out their role. The supervision and appraisal system also supported them to carry out their work.

The service carried out assessments of people’s needs before they moved in. Care plans described each person as an individual, the degree of support they required [including support for people suffering with dementia] and were tailored to respond to people’s unique needs. Care plans were regularly reviewed. People were supported to maintain good health. People had access to health care services whenever this was needed. People received a nutritionally balanced diet to maintain their health and wellbeing.

The service had a clear management structure in place. The service had various quality assurance and monitoring systems in place to oversee the day to day operation of the home and to plan for changes and improvements. The provider listened and responded to the views of people who used the service, relatives and other health and social care professionals.

People and their relatives were very positive about the service. One relative said "they keep us informed and involved with everything that goes on here.The new manager is very good.You can tell the staff are calmer, things are improving and settling down."

People's needs were met by staff who were appropriately recruited, qualified and experienced to carry out their role. A member of staff told us " they carried out checks and interviewed me before I got the job." Another said "there is a good team here and that is what makes me want to come to work here."

The service had procedures in place for dealing with complaints which were listened to and acted upon by the acting manager. A relative told us "I would not hesitate to talk to the manager or the provider if I was concerned about anything."

People told us that they liked living at Faringdon Lodge. They received the help and support they needed from staff who were aware of their needs. We found that people's views were sought in relation to their care. We saw that people received assistance with their personal care and were being supported in accordance with their individual care plan. A relative said "the carers know her needs and meet them.They are very caring, like an extended family." Another told us "I have been involved in her care plan."

We found there were sufficient staff available to assist people when needed. However, we found that appropriate checks were not undertaken before staff began work, this put people at risk of receiving care from potentially inappropriate staff. A compliance action has been set for the provider to meet this regulation.