Background to this inspection
Updated
27 February 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the registered 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 over two days. The visits on the 20 December 2017 was unannounced and the visit on 2 January 2018 announced. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.
Records looked at during the inspection included assessments of risk and care planning documents, medicines, policies and procedures. We looked at the recruitment records of six recently recruited staff, and rotas. In addition we spent time looking around people’s living environment and spent mealtimes with people using the service.
We spoke with and spent time with 26 people using the service, seven visiting relatives, nine staff members, the registered manager, and representatives of the registered provider. In addition, we spoke with a visiting healthcare professional who told us positive things about the actions of the registered manager in supporting people’s health needs.
We used information the registered provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make
Prior to the inspection we assessed all of the information held about the service. This information included concerns and complaints received from people, their relatives and information sent to us by the registered provider. We spoke with the local authority who commissioned services and the local authority safeguarding team to gather any information they had about the service. They had no current concerns about the service. In addition, we contacted Health Watch Knowsley. Health Watch is the consumer champion for health and social care throughout England. Health Watch had no information to share about the service at the time of this inspection.
Updated
27 February 2018
This inspection took place on 20 December 2017 and 2 January 2018. The visit on the 20 December was unannounced. The visit on the 2 January 2018 was announced.
Maple Lodge is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Maple Lodge accommodates up to 45 people in one building with all bedrooms and facilities located on the ground floor. The service specialises in providing care to people living with dementia. At the time of this inspection 42 people were using the service.
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.
Not all of the people using the service were able to verbally tell us their thoughts about the service. We spent time sitting and chatting with people in the lounge areas and during mealtimes. We saw that people were comfortable with staffs approach to them and it was evident that staff knew people well.
People and their relatives felt that the service was safe. Staff were aware of the policies and procedures in place for safeguarding people. Staff had received training in relation to safeguarding people.
Staff supported people in a kind and caring manner whilst respecting individual’s privacy and dignity.
People's medicines were managed safely and appropriate storage facilities were in place.
People’s living environment was clean and tidy and effective control measures were in place to protect people from infection.
Systems were in place to ensure that people’s rights were maintained under the Mental Capacity Act.
People’s needs were assessed and when a need was identified, care plans had been developed to inform staff as to what support a person needed. Family members felt involved in their relative's care planning process.
People had access to activities within the service and the local community with the support of an activities co-ordinator.
The registered provider had procedures in place that ensured the safe recruitment of staff. This helped ensure that people were supported by staff who were suitable to work with vulnerable people.
A complaints procedure and recording system was in place. People and their relatives knew who to speak to if they wanted to raise a concern about the service.
The CQC were notified as required about incidents and events which had occurred within the service.
People were cared for by staff who had received appropriate training. Staff completed a variety of training relevant to their role and responsibilities. This helped ensure that people receive safe effective care and support.