• Care Home
  • Care home

Stradbroke Court

Overall: Requires improvement read more about inspection ratings

Green Drive, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 7JS (01502) 322799

Provided and run by:
Aps Care Ltd

Latest inspection summary

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Our current view of the service

Requires improvement

Updated 13 September 2024

Date of assessment 2 October 2024 to 22 October 2024. Stradbroke Court is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 43 people in an adapted building across 5 units. The service provides care and support to older people, some living with dementia and mental health conditions. 18 people were living there at the time of our assessment. This assessment was prompted by a review of information we held about the service and their previous rating of inadequate. We assessed 12 quality statements from the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led key questions. We found inconsistent practice and identified areas of concern. The scores for these have been combined with scores based on the key question ratings from the last inspection. Our overall rating has changed from inadequate to requires improvement. There was a breach of regulation in relation to good governance. We found improvements in relation to staffing, people’s consent to their care and support and maintaining their independence. During the emergency activation of the fire alarm staff did not ensure all people were made safe. There were inconsistencies in staff practice to support and care for people safely and people’s care records contained discrepancies. Governance systems were not always effective. At the time of the assessment, there was no registered manager in place. A manager had newly been appointed. Changes in management and personnel since our last inspection had contributed to operational challenges. Relatives and staff expressed concerns about frequent changes in management. The provider had employed a consultant to support the new manager. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs but the delegation of roles and responsibilities during the shift needed further clarity. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

People's experience of the service

Updated 13 September 2024

Relatives spoken with generally felt that the management of the service had been varied but was improving. One person said, “I do feel that since the new manager started things have got a bit better.” Relatives believed staffing was broadly adequate. People were generally aware their relative had a care plan, but they had not always seen a copy. Most people spoken with felt care staff had adequate skills to support their relative.