Archived: Russell Lodge

We found the following examples of good practice.

There were safe protocols for visitors to the home. Staff ensured visitors took a lateral flow test for COVID-19 at the home's entrance. Visitors had their temperature taken by staff to check it was within the threshold and they were not symptomatic of COVID-19. They were provided suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear such as a face mask and apron to reduce the risk of catching or spreading infections. Visiting professionals were asked to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test taken that day and their COVID-19 vaccination status prior to entering the home. All staff coming on shift had to have a negative test result prior to starting their shift. The registered manager recorded all test results.

During a recent outbreak of COVID-19 in the home, people who had tested positive self-isolated in their rooms to manage the spread of infection. Infection control procedures and government guidance related to COVID-19 were followed to help staff continue to support people safely. People were supported to keep in contact with relatives by telephone or video calls while they were self-isolating. They were able to have visitors once their period of self-isolation was completed.

The service had enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff and people took part in a COVID-19 testing programme in accordance with government guidance for care homes. All staff had completed relevant training in infection control and using PPE. We saw staff using PPE correctly and safely. Handwashing guidance was displayed throughout the home. We observed the premises to be clean and tidy. There was a daily cleaning schedule in operation to maintain hygiene and help prevent the spread of infections.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the previous inspection of this service in July 2016 we rated them as Good overall. We found one breach of regulations because staff had not received training about the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and rated the Effective question as Requires Improvement. Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key question of Effective to at least good. During this inspection we found this issue had been addressed.

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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There were enough staff working at the service to meet people’s needs and robust staff recruitment procedures were in place. Appropriate safeguarding procedures were in place. Checks had been carried out to help ensure the premises was safe. Risk assessments provided information about how to support people in a safe manner. Procedures were in place to reduce the risk of the spread of infection. Medicines were managed in a safe way.

Systems were in place to assess people’s needs before they started using the service to determine if those needs could be met. Staff received on-going training and supervision to support them in their role. People were able to make choices for themselves and the service operated within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People told us they enjoyed the food. People were supported to access relevant health care professionals.

People told us they were treated with respect and that staff were caring. Staff had a good understanding of how to promote people’s privacy, independence and dignity. We saw staff interacting with people in a caring manner. Steps had been taken to promote people’s right to confidentiality and to support needs relating to equality and diversity.

Care plans were in place which set out how to meet people’s individual needs. Care plans were subject to regular review. The service had a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to make a complaint. People were supported to engage in various social and leisure activities.

Staff and people spoke positively about the senior staff at the service. Systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of support provided. Some of these included seeking the views of people who used the service.

Russell Lodge is a care home that provides accommodation with personal care for up to five adults with learning disabilities. There were five people living there when we inspected. Each person had their own bedroom with a handbasin and shared communal bathrooms and other facilities, including a walk-in shower room for people with mobility needs. The service premises had a paved garden for people to use. The service is provided by Care One Limited.

The service 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.

People told us they were happy with the care they received. We observed staff interacting with people and saw they knew them well and understood their individual needs. There was a stable staff group who had built a warm and caring rapport with people over a number of years. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming and we saw people smiling and relaxing with staff and each other.

There were enough staff on duty to meet the needs of the people living in the service and keep them safe. Safeguarding procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard people. The staff records showed staff received appropriate training to keep people safe including moving and handling, health and safety, infection control, food safety and safeguarding training. However they had not had been trained in the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Staff had regular supervision and could talk to the registered manager about any concerns. There were regular staff meetings and staff were encouraged to make suggestions to the registered manager.

People knew how to complain about things they didn’t like or made them unhappy. Staff were responsive to people’s wishes and encouraged them to be as independent as possible. People were encouraged to enjoy a range of activities both inside and outside the service and staff were responsive to what people wanted to do each day. Staff encouraged people to take an active part in the running of the service, helping with chores and cooking for each other with support from staff. People were involved in choosing menus and shopping for food. People’s relatives were encouraged to visit and invited to a Christmas party each year. Relatives were invited to comment on the quality of the care given through a regular questionnaire.

People had care plans and risk assessments which were used to support them safely and with things they wanted help with. There were regular fire drills and people with reduced mobility had rooms on the ground floor but there were no personal emergency evacuation plans in people’s care records. We have made a recommendation about personal evacuation plans for people who had reduced mobility.

Staff understood people’s need for privacy and dignity. They asked before they did things to help people and they knew people well enough to interpret facial expressions and behaviour when people couldn’t say what they wanted. The staff interactions we saw were sensitive, respectful and friendly.

People were encouraged to look after their health and wellbeing and there was a visiting massage therapist each week which people really enjoyed. People were encouraged to eat a healthy diet and they told us they enjoyed the food. When people were unwell staff made sure they saw their doctor and other health professionals. Staff supported people when they had to attend hospital appointments.

The registered manager was well liked by people and by staff. They were at the service most days and provided a good role model for staff.

The registered manager and provider carried out quality assurance checks and addressed issues in a timely manner.

We found one breach of the Health and Social care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we have told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.

People were involved in their care and were encouraged to do things for themselves which helped promote their independence and self esteem. We observed a meal time where one person was very pleased to have eaten dinner without the need for assistance. They were encouraged by staff in a positive and supportive manner.

All the staff we spoke with were able to tell us about people's needs and were knowledgeable about the people they cared for. One relative in the annual questionnaire said the service had "very friendly staff who know the service users extremely well and have their best interests at heart."

Systems were in place to ensure people were safeguarded from harm. People told us that they felt safe living there. We saw good record keeping to manage people's money.

We saw that the environment was clean and comfortable. We saw records to demonstrate that regular checks to maintain the property and keep it safe, were in place.

The staff member we spoke with told us they felt supported by the manager and had regular training opportunities to help them in the skills needed for their work.