Archived: Helene Lodge

Updated 13 August 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 21 and 22 July 2016 and was unannounced. It was carried out by one inspector.

Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including notifications of incidents the provider had sent us since our last inspection in July 2015. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During our inspection we met and spoke with everyone who lived at Helene Lodge. We also spoke with two relatives, the registered manager, the deputy manager, two other members of staff, the provider’s managing director and three visiting health and social care professionals. We observed staff supporting people in communal areas. We looked at three people’s care records, including medicines administration records. We also looked at records that related to how the service was managed, including three staff files, and the provider’s quality assurance records. We had contact with a further relative following the inspection.

Updated 13 August 2016

This inspection took place on 21 and 22 July 2016 and was unannounced.

Helene Lodge is a care home without nursing for up to six adults with learning disabilities. There were five people living there when we inspected. It is a detached house in a residential area, with a paved garden at the back and a gravelled parking area in front. Accommodation is located on the ground and first floor, which is accessed by stairs. Each person has their own bedroom and some bedrooms have ensuite facilities. Shared facilities include two lounges, a conservatory, a kitchen/dining room and a toilet and bathroom on the first floor.

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.

At our inspection in January 2015, we found breaches of the regulations relating to person centred care, safeguarding people from abuse and improper treatment, cleanliness and infection control, managing medicines, premises and equipment, record keeping, good governance, staff support and staffing levels. Some of these breaches were repeated and we issued two warning notices telling the provider to make improvements to staffing and to their assessment and monitoring of the quality of the service. We also asked the provider to make improvements to the other areas. The service was rated as inadequate in relation to the question ‘Is the well led?’, as requires improvement with regard to whether the service was safe, effective and responsive and as good in relation to whether the service was caring. At that inspection the service received a rating of requires improvement overall.

At our last inspection in July 2015 to check the provider had acted on the warning notices, we found they had made the required improvements to staffing and to monitoring and assessing the quality of the service.

At this inspection in July 2016, we found that action had been completed to meet the relevant legal requirements.

People benefited from a safe service where staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities. They were protected against the risk of abuse, including financial abuse. The premises were maintained in a clean, safe condition.

People were treated with respect and dignity by staff and their care and support needs were met. People had access to activities they enjoyed at home and in the wider community.

People were involved in decisions about their care and support, and their wishes and preferences were respected. Where people were unable to make decisions about particular aspects of their care, staff followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, including the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Risks to people’s personal safety had been assessed and plans were in place to minimise these risks.

People were supported to maintain their health and wellbeing. People told us they liked the food and they had a choice of meals. They were encouraged to eat healthily, whilst respecting their preferences, and their weight and body mass index were monitored for unplanned changes and any risk of malnutrition. Healthcare professionals were consulted when there was cause for concern about people’s health or health advice was needed, including dietary advice. Medicines were managed safely.

There were sufficient staff on duty. Staff morale was good and staff were supported through training and supervision to perform their roles effectively.

Quality assurance processes were in operation. People, relatives and staff were able to give their views about the service through periodic quality assurance surveys and informal meetings. These were used in developing the service, such as taking steps to make it look more homely. Regular checks and audits were undertaken, and any issues identified were put in order.