Background to this inspection
Updated
29 May 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
Our inspection was completed by one inspector and one assistant inspector due to the homes small size.
Service and service type
La Luz is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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
Our inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service. We also checked for feedback we received from members of the public, local authorities and commissioning groups. We checked records held by Companies House. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, and three staff. We observed the care and support provided to those people that we were unable to communicate with. We reviewed five people's care records, three staff files, audits and other records about the management of the service.
Updated
29 May 2019
About the service
La Luz is a residential home which provides accommodation for a maximum of 16 people. The people accommodated at the home are elderly and have a variety of care and mobility needs, many of whom are living with the experience of dementia. The home has the provision to look after residents who speak Spanish as their first language. At the time of our visit 14 people were living in the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were positive about the care and support they received. Staff were seen to interact with people in kind and compassionate ways.
People were supported to remain safe. Risks to their health and safety had been identified and well managed to reduce the risk of harm. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities around keeping people safe, including the identification and reporting process if abuse was suspected. Staffing levels were kept at safe numbers to ensure peoples support needs could be met. Peoples medicines were well managed, so they had their medicines when they needed them. Cleanliness and infection control processes ensured the home was kept clean and tidy.
Peoples were involved in assessments of their needs to make sure the home could meet those needs, before they moved in. Staff received training and supervision ensure they had the skills necessary to provide care and support that people needed. People had enough to eat and drink. We have recommended that the provider review the meal portion size, as three people were heard to say that they found the portion size too large. This can put people off eating. People had access to health care professionals when needed. Staff worked with these professionals by following guidance given, such as changes in medicines, or adjusting food to meet dietary requirements.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service did support this practice.
People were supported by kind and caring staff. Staff knew people as individuals and were able to communicate with them in a way they could understand.
People had care plans that detailed their care and support needs. Wherever possible people or their relatives were involved in reviews of their care. People had access to indoor activities to help keep them active and stop them being bored. People commented that they would like more access to outdoor activities, when the weather was better. People would be supported at the end of their lives because processes were in place to record their preferences and wishes.
The provider wished to provide a service that made people feel part of their family. People confirmed that this was how they felt. There was a family atmosphere at the home with people and staff enjoying each other’s company. People, their relatives and staff were all involved in giving feedback about the home, and any areas that may need to be improved. The registered manager listened to feedback and made changes where they could.
Rating at last inspection:
At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.