Springfield Lodge Care Home

Updated 5 January 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.

Inspection team

An inspector, a medicines inspector and an Expert by Experience carried out this inspection. 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

Springfield Lodge Care Home 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. Springfield Lodge Care Home is a care home without 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. The most recent manager left the service in December 2022 while our inspection was ongoing. The provider was in the process of recruiting a new manager.

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. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and 8 medicine administration records, with accompanying documentation. We spoke with 13 members of staff, including the nominated individual, the manager, care, kitchen and domestic staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 5 January 2023

About the service

Springfield Lodge Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 40 older people, people with physical disabilities and people living with a dementia. People are supported in 1 adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 39 people using the service.

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

Medicines and risk were not always managed safely. The provider had not ensured staff had received the training needed for their roles. Eating and drinking support was not always effective. Care records did not always reflect people’s care choices and needs. The provider’s governance processes had not always identified or addressed issues at the service.

A number of staff had recently left the service, meaning agency staff were regularly used until new staff could be recruited. Staff were safely recruited. Effective infection prevention and control systems were in place.

People’s needs were assessed but were not always subject to effective ongoing review. 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. The premises were adapted to suit people’s choices and support needs.

People spoke positively about staff at the service, who they said were caring and kind. People and relatives said people were treated with dignity and respect.

People were supported to access activities they enjoyed and to avoid social isolation. The provider had a clear complaints process in place.

We received mixed feedback on how people’s views and opinions were sought and acted on, and how the provider worked in partnership with others. People and relatives said staff helped people to achieve the outcomes they wanted.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 11 December 2018).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about medicines management. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to medicines and risk management, training, eating and drinking support, care records and governance processes.

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.