Updated 18 August 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Thornton Lodge Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. A new manager had been employed and was preparing to apply for registration. A registered manager is a registered person. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
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 contacted the local authority and healthcare services which worked with the home to gather their feedback. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with six people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the manager and four members of the care team. We also spoke with the provider’s Finance and Operations Director. We looked around the building and observed how staff interacted with people who could not easily share their views with us.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and training. We also reviewed records relating to the safety and management of the service and how the provider maintained oversight of the quality of the service.
After the inspection
We contacted one social care professional who had regular contact with the service. We reviewed additional evidence we had asked the provider to send us.