Archived: Bessingby Lodge

Updated 6 August 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by two inspectors on the first day and one inspector on the second day. An Expert by Experience also made phone calls to people's relatives to gather feedback on the care provided. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Bessingby Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Bessingby Lodge is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. The registered manager was not present during the inspection.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on both days of inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We inspected the safety of the premises, reviewed documentation and carried out observations in communal areas. We spoke with two people who used the service and five members of staff including the regional manager, supporting manager, senior care staff and care staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and three people’s medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

After the inspection we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 6 August 2022

About the service

Bessingby Lodge is a residential care home providing personal care to 21 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 28 people and specialised in dementia care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People did not always receive safe, effective and responsive care. Systems in place to reduce risks to people was not always followed and medicines were not always managed well. People did not receive their medicines as prescribed.

Interactions between staff and the people were not always positive and respectful. People were not always supported to make choices in line with their preferences. Care plans and risk assessments did not always contain information/guidance for staff to follow and provide responsive care to .

Governance systems were not always effective in ensuring high quality care across the service. However, the management team were responsive to feedback and had begun to make changes while we were inspecting. We will assess the impact of this at our next inspection.

Recruitment checks helped ensure new staff were of good character. The premises were kept clean. The provider knew some areas of the service required redecoration. Staff felt supported by the new management team supporting the service.

The service's infection prevention and control policy and procedures, including visiting arrangements, reflected current national guidance. There were ample supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which staff used safely.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not support this practice.

Relatives told us their loved one felt at ease with the kind, caring staff and had confidence in their abilities. Staff were confident that new management team would support the service to improve.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 23 April 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment and the management oversight at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.