We inspected Faldonside Lodge on the 28 November 2014. This was an unannounced inspection.
Faldonside Lodge provides care for up to 15 older people who require nursing or personal care. The home is registered with the Care Quality Commission by Mrs J. Soobrayen. There were eight people living in the home when we inspected.
At the time of the inspection the home had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
The CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and to report on what we find. The DoLS are a code of practice to supplement the main MCA 20015 Code of Practice. They are put in place to protect people where they do not have capacity to make decisions and where it is considered necessary to restrict their freedom in some way, usually to protect themselves or others. No applications had been made relating to people who lived at the home and we found that the requirements of the MCA 2005 had been complied with.
People told us they felt safe at the home. Staff were aware of how to identify abuse and what to do if they suspected abuse was taking place. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and refresher training was about to be undertaken.
The home undertook safe and robust employment checks when recruiting new employees. This helped to achieve and maintain the recruitment of staff that were qualified, trained and of good character. The provider and registered manager were maintaining staffing levels which contributed to protecting people from harm.
Medicines were managed, stored and administered safely by staff who had been properly trained.
Any accidents or incidents were recorded appropriately and timely. Learning from such experiences was shared with staff so as to help prevent recurrences.
At the time of the inspection the home was clean and tidy and free from hazard. Staff were trained in infection prevention the home was equipped with hand sanitizers and relevant information posters about the need for good hand hygiene.
Staff undertook regular training, supported by refresher training where relevant. Staff were empowered and supported to progress their careers by taking National Vocational Qualifications in care (NVQ). This contributed to ensuring they had the skills and knowledge necessary to support people well.
People’s choices in relation to their food and drink and times that they took breakfast were flexible to meet their needs.
Hot and cold drinks were to hand in all areas of the home and people told us they never went without a drink or snack if they wanted one. We observed this to be the case during the inspection.
People were supported to see health professionals where this was needed for rehabilitation or treatment. When necessary GP visits, nurse visits and chiropody visits were arranged. The registered manager would take people to see their own GP or dentist if they wished.
Staff were caring and attentive towards people who lived at the home. At all times staff were respectful and courteous. People were encouraged, where possible, to maintain independence. No pressure was placed on anyone to do anything they did not wish to. Staff were fully aware of people’s personal choices as to how they wished to spend their time.
People and staff were encouraged to be open about any concerns they may have had and the registered manager was seen to respond in a kind and compassionate way at all times, answering questions, re-assuring people and instinctively knowing what was needed.
Assessments of people’s needs took place before they went to live at the home. Any changes to a person’s needs or requirements were immediately acted on and, where appropriate or relevant, family were involved in discussions about changing needs. Individual likes and dislikes, hobbies and interests were noted and acted upon.
People and family members told us how well managed the home was. In particular, they told us about the ‘extra lengths’ the registered manager went to, to make sure people were safe and well cared for. The provider complied with their responsibilities to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of specific events happening within the home in a timely manner.