Archived: Sovereign Lodge

Updated 11 July 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 the 24 May 2017 and 5 June 2017and was unannounced. This meant the provider did not know we were coming.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection 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. We also reviewed the information we held about the service, such as notifications we had received from the registered provider. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. In addition we spoke with representatives from adult social care and the clinical commissioning group (CCG). We planned the inspection using this information.

We spoke with seven of the people who used the service and three relatives. We also spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, care staff, kitchen staff and an activity co-ordinator.

We read six written records of care and other policies and records that related to the service. We looked at three staff files which included supervision, appraisal and induction records and examined quality monitoring documents.

Updated 11 July 2017

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 24 May 2017 and 5 June 2017. We last carried out an inspection of this service in December 2014, at this time the service was rated as good in all areas.

Sovereign Lodge provides personal care for up to 44 older people and people living with dementia. Nursing care is not provided. It is divided into two units one of which provides support to people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 44 people living at the home.

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.

There was sufficient appropriately trained staff to meet people’s needs. They received regular supervision and appraisal and as part of their recruitment process the service carried out background checks on new staff.

Staff were aware of how to identify and report abuse. There were also policies in place that outlined what to do if staff had concerns about the practice of a colleague. Where people were not able to make important decisions about their lives the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed to protect their rights.

The service managed medicines appropriately. They were correctly stored, monitored and administered in accordance with people’s prescriptions. People were supported to maintain their health and to access health services if needed. People who required support with eating and drinking received it and had their nutrition and hydration support needs regularly assessed.

Staff had developed good relationships with people and communicated in a warm and friendly manner. They demonstrated good communication skills in relation to supporting people who lived with dementia. They were aware of how to treat people with dignity and respect.

Care plans were subject to regular review to ensure they met people’s changing needs. Risk assessments were carried out and plans were put in place to reduce risks to people’ safety and welfare.

There was a complaints procedure in place that outlined how to make a complaint and how long it would take to deal with. People were aware of how to raise a complaint and who to speak to about any concerns they had. The registered manager understood the importance of acknowledging and improving areas of poor practice identified in complaints.

The home was clean and the staff were aware of good infection control practices.

The home was well led by a registered manager who had a vision for the future of the service. A quality assurance system was in place that was utilised to improve the service.