Franklyn Lodge 9 Grand Avenue

Updated 6 October 2023

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.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Franklyn Lodge 9 Grand Avenue 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered with the CQC. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR 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. The PIR also provides data about the organisation and service. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met 5 people who lived in the home. They were unable to speak with us due to their needs. We therefore observed interactions between them and staff. We spoke with 2 family members. We also spoke with 4 care workers, the HR manager and the registered manager. We looked at a range of management records including medicines, quality audits and health and safety checks. We reviewed 6 people’s care records and 3 staff recruitment records. After the site visit, we continued to liaise with the service. The registered manager and HR manager sent us documentation we asked for and clarified any queries we had. We also obtained feedback from one care professional.

Updated 6 October 2023

About the service

Franklyn Lodge 9 Grand Avenue is a care home providing residential care to 6 people with learning disabilities.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance the Care Quality Commission (CQC) follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support:

Some staff worked long hours without an appropriate rest break before their next shift. People were cared for by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. We found that there were gaps in staff training and it was not clear if training had been completed by some staff. There were systems in place to minimise the risk of infection. Medicines were managed effectively. 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 supported this practice.

Right Care:

There was a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the service. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way which focused on people’s individual needs. People were supported to help achieve their goals and aspirations by a staff team who knew them well. However, it was not always evident that people were supported to engage in activities that enabled them to develop their skills. Communication was either verbal or through observing people's reactions to suggestions or actions.

Right Culture:

The service had made some improvements to their quality assurance system since the previous inspection. However, we found that there were still some areas that needed to be addressed and were not assured that quality assurance systems were sufficiently robust. The registered manager promoted a culture in the home where staff valued people's individuality and protected their rights. Staff were responsive to people’s needs and wishes. Staff and family members spoke positively about the management of the service. The staff turnover at the service was low, which helped ensure people received consistent care from staff who knew them well.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 7 May 2020).

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 have identified 1 breach of regulation in relation to quality assurance at this inspection. We have also made a recommendation in relation to staffing, staff training and activities.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.