Archived: Lansdowne Care Home

At the time of our inspection there were six people living at the service. The service is located in two adjoining terraced houses, on two floors with access to a front and back garden. We previously inspected the service on 6 November 2013 and the service was found to be meeting the regulations inspected.

Lansdowne Residential Care Home 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.

Care records were individualised and up to date with information regarding people’s likes and dislikes. Care plans provided detailed information on people’s mental health needs which were closely monitored. Risk assessments had been carried out and updated regularly and contained guidance for staff on protecting people and responding to any issues that might occur.

Staff were able to tell us about the needs of people they cared for and were aware of how to support them with their mental health needs. We saw people had regular access to healthcare professionals, such as the local mental health team and GPs, and where they were in agreement, had access to opticians and dentists on a regular basis.

People were given their medicines on time as prescribed. Medicines were locked away, but the system to check that the stocks of boxed medicines tallied with records was not easy to use. The registered manager undertook to improve the system for the auditing of boxed medicines.

On the day of the inspection there was insufficient food in the fridge and cupboards for the people at the service. The registered manager advised that he has since introduced a system to ensure the fridge and cupboards were stocked with essential items and the range of these would be discussed with people living at the service. People at the service told us they did not have enough choice for the evening meal that was prepared. The registered manager told us he would address this as a priority.

People living at the home told us that they had found it difficult having a significant number of new staff working with them recently. Staff had been recruited safely and told us they felt supported by the registered manager. There was evidence of regular supervision taking place. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns or allegations of abuse and were able to tell us what action they would take to protect people against harm. Staff knew what whistleblowing was and were able to tell us what they would do if they were concerned about the quality of the service.

We found the premises were clean and tidy, and measures were in place for infection control, however perishable foods were not always labelled with the date of opening and sealed as appropriate. There was a record of essential services such as gas and electrical installations being checked, with fire drills taking place regularly. There were policies in place in relation to complaints and incidents, and we saw that learning took place to minimise incidents re-occurring.

Staff, people living at the service and relatives told us the management was a visible presence within the home, and the staff we met were kind. People at the service told us there had been numerous changes of staff at the service. They also told us the kitchen was locked at night. The registered manager has since confirmed this was no longer happening.

We have made a recommendation in relation to staff training.

We saw people were considering moving into the home were given a written guide about the service provided and this gave them key information about the service, policies and procedures and how the service would be provided.

We saw from documentation and speaking to people who use the service, they had choices about the care they were given, what they did and were able to choose what they had in their bedrooms.

Peoples medicines were managed safely and they were supported to self-medicate if it was appropriate for them to do this.

People who used the service were protected from risks because there were effective recruitment processes in place and appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. There were enough staff available to assist the people who used the service when they were needed.

People who used the service had the opportunity to complain and were supported to do so in confidence if they needed help.