Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report
Care homes for adults (18-65 years)
Name: Address: Links Lodge 16 Links Road Blackpool Lancashire FY1 2RU The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full assessment of the service. We call this a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed inspection. Details of how to get other inspection reports for this care home, including the last key inspection report, can be found on the last page of this report. Lead inspector: Pauline Caulfield Date: 1 9 1 1 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Links Lodge 16 Links Road Blackpool Lancashire FY1 2RU 01253354744 01253590198 bdlumb1@aol.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Mrs Karen Bradley care home 8 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 learning disability 8 Over 65 0 Conditions of registration: Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Links Lodge is a care home for up to eight adults with learning disabilities. The home is a large detached house situated in the North Shore area of Blackpool, close to the sea front and local amenities. There are six single bedrooms and one double bedroom. One is en-suite. There is a large lounge area that leads to a sunroom and a kitchen/diner. There are spacious gardens at the front side and rear of the home. There is a statement of Purpose/Service user Guide, which is given to all prospective residents/relatives. This written information explains the care service treatment programme that is offered, who the owners and staff are and what the resident can expect if he or she decides to live at the home. The fees at the home range from four hundred and seventy pounds to nine hundred and seventy pounds per week. There are no additional costs. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 9 What we found:
The reason for this inspection was to check that the good 2 star rating given at the last key inspection is still valid and that nothing has changed. We looked at all the key standards. The outcome is as follows and shows that the good 2 star rating is still valid. We case tracked two residents. This included looking at their care records and the environment they live in, talking to them and to the staff supporting them and observing staff interactions with them. This is not to the exclusion of other residents who were also spoken to. Residents case tracked had a number of overnight stays in Links Lodge before admission and staff completed detailed assessments involving all relevant people before each resident moved into the home. Residents had detailed essential lifestyle plans (care plans). It was clear from the information written into typed pages updating the essentail lifestyle plan that these were working documents and were updated frequently. Residents are involved in the changes and own the documents. Where there are specific health needs, staff are very familiar with the care and have contact with appropriate health and care services. However although there is information relating to most health issues in place. Some information, particularly that of a sensitive nature is not always in place. If there is sensitive information for any resident that the manager does not want accessible to all then some method of keeping this securely needs to be organised, rather than not writing it down at all. Residents quality of care and support given is good. Despite this, recording is not as good as it should be and needs developing. Staff are very knowledgeable about residents but only limited diary records are kept on residents. At present staff use a single communication book to write all information regardless of whether this is resident, home or staff related. This is not good practice and reduces the confidentiality of information. Also individual diary records on residents are not written regularly. Often several days pass with no mention of the wellbeing of a resident. Resident diary records should be individual and frequent with the author of the record signing the entry with their full name. Residents are encouraged to make choices and routines are flexible with staff encouraging residents to make decisions, with support as needed about what they want to do. Risk assessments are in place. Residents spoken to said that they can choose when they get up and go to bed and whether they want to join in activities. Each resident has a detailed programme of activities in place. This includes day centres/education social and leisure activities. Some residents attend day care centres for part of the week, other residents have less formal day care and more individual activities in and outside the home. Each resident is involved in regular activities of their choosing and those spoken to said they enjoyed them. Residents are encouraged to try new and different activities to see if they like them. Residents relatives are encouraged to be involved with the home and to get involved in social activities. Links Lodge is a home for life wherever possible Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 9 with residents remaining in the home until the end of their life if staff can continue to meet their needs. The meal at lunchtime was being prepared when we entered the home. The meals were nutritious and of good quality and quantity. Meal times are flexible to fit in with activities. Staff encourage healthy eating and are familiar with residents likes and dislikes and meals are planned together where possible. Staff have helped residents to lose weight where needed through healthy eating and gentle exercise. All residents have access to appropriate health care. Staff go out of their way to get access to appropriate and sympathetic health care services. This enables residents to improve their health. Medication administration is satisfactory with clear entering of medication and disposal of medication, appropriate signing and storage of medication. There is no controlled medication at present but the deputy manager said they are aware of the procedure for managing controlled medication and could manage this effectively if it was needed. There is a detailed complaints procedure with an easy to read version available. Two residents spoken to said they knew who to complain to if they werent happy. There have been no complaints made either to CSCI or to the home. Staff said they chat to residents and relatives all the time and so little irritations dont escalate into big problems. Residents are supported to manage their money where possible or staff keep detailed records for all transactions where resident are unable to look after their own money. Staff have received safeguarding adults training and have an understanding of the action to be taken if they are alerted to a safeguarding issue. We toured the home and found the environment clean, tidy, homely and well maintained. Bedrooms are well personalised and furnished to residents choices. Two new beds were delivered to a downstairs bedroom during the inspection and a the owners had carried out some work to provide an additional downstairs toilet for the convenience of residents. One of the residents proudly showed us the new toilet and her bedroom. Another resident showed us her room and said how much she enjoyed living at the home. One resident felt confident enough to tell us we couldnt look at her room. It was positive that residents felt they had a real choice and would be supported by staff in their decision whether to show us their rooms. Aids and adaptations are in place to help residents get about more easily and to be as safe and as independent as they can be. Specialist mobility aids were seen as we were touring the building. Residents spoken to said the staff were wonderful and nice. One resident said I like them. We observed staff interaction with residents in the lounge and dining kitchen. Staff interaction was very frequent, staff were chatty and friendly were very involved with residents throughout the inspection. A lot of the staff have worked in the home for several years and there is only a small staff turnover. This ensures that staff are familiar with residents and their care needs Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 9 and residents know the people caring for them. Staff rotas showed sufficient staff on duty doing the inspection. There was the deputy manager, senior care and at least one other carer throughout the inspection. Staff felt that there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to provide good and individual care. The records of two members of staff were checked. Both members of staff had an application form with a working history. However the work history only went back a few years and showed only the year rather than the year and the month of changes of employment. A full working history from first to present job is needed to reduce the risk of employing people who should not work with vulnerable people. Both staff had written references in place. These were dated and signed, showing they were received before the members of staff began working at Links Lodge. Health information in place and all staff had PoVA checks and were awaiting CRB checks. All staff had received an induction followed by National vocational qualifications in care (NVQ) and Learning disability qualifications (LDQ) modules. Staff training is good and includes moving and handling and food hygiene as well as different areas of learning disabilities care. Mrs Karen Bradley is the owner of the home and is in day to day control of the home. She ensures that she updates her skills and knowledge so that she is familiar with any developments in care practice. Staff feel well supported by senior staff. One member of staff said, Karen is fair and supportive. Systems are in place for quality assurance. The home has met the standards for investors in people which is a national quality assurance award. There are regular staff meeting and issues discussed affect and improve care practice. Senior staff need to inform CSCI of any event that affects the running of the home or the well being of residents so that we have all relevant information we may need about the home. The home has not sent us a regulation 37 notification in one instance and should have done. The fire risk assessment is in place and up to date. There are regular fire alarm and emergency light checks. Staff have regular fire safety and moving and handling training and appropriate health and safety checks are in place. We observed good moving and handling techniques using appropriate equipment and good care practices throughout the inspection. What the care home does well:
The residents in this home are well cared for. We observed staff interacting with residents. They were polite and friendly chatting as they went about their duties. Staff meet residents frequently to assess their care and support needs before deciding residents move into the home. Detailed essential lifestyles plans are in place and have most information needed and risk assessments are in place for residents. These are regularly reviewed with residents input and the information in place is generally up to date. Residents are encouraged to make choices and routines are flexible. with staff encouraging residents to make decisions, with support as needed about what they want to do. Each resident has a detailed programme of activities in place, this includes Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 9 day centres/education social and leisure activities. Medication administration is satisfactory and medication is managed well making sure residents get any medication they need at the correct times. Residents spoken to said they knew who to complain to if they werent happy. Links Lodge is clean, tidy, homely and well maintained. Residents choose their bedroom furnishings and personal items to make their room look as they want it. Staff recruitment is robust and safe in most areas and staff induction and training is good. This helps protect residents from people who should not work with vulnerable people and keeps staff skills and knowledge up to date. The manager is knowledgeable and keeps up to date with current practice. Staff said that she is supportive and approachable. Systems are in place for quality assurance including the investors in people award to ensure care practice is up to date and effective. There are regular staff meeting and issues discussed are acted upon. There are appropriate health and safety checks in place. This makes the home safe for residents. What they could do better: If you want to know what action the person responsible for this care home is taking following this report, you can contact them using the details set out on page 2. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 9 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements These requirements were set at the last inspection. They may not have been looked at during this inspection, as a random inspection is short and focussed. The registered person must take the necessary action to comply with these requirements within the timescales set.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 9 Requirements and recommendations from this inspection
Immediate requirements: These are immediate requirements that were set on the day we visited this care home. The registered person had to meet these within 48 hours.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Statutory requirements These requirements set out what the registered person must do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must do this within the timescales we have set.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 1 34 19 There must be a complete 10/12/2008 work history including month and year of any changes of employment in place for all prospective staff This is so staff experience is clear and detailed and any gaps in employment can be explored 2 41 37 CSCI must be notified of any 10/12/2008 of any event that affects the running of the home or the well being of residents so that we have all relevant information we may need about the home. Recommendations These recommendations are taken from the best practice described in the National Minimum Standards and the registered person(s) should consider them as a way of improving their service.
No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations 1 10 Staff should improve residents records so that they are frequent, detailed and confidential and all staff have up to date written information. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 9 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report CSCI General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies of the National Minimum Standards –Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or got from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering from the Stationery Office is also available: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop Helpline: Telephone: 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323 Textphone: 0845 015 2255 or 0191 233 3588 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. If you would like a summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. Copyright © (2008) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 9 of 9 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. The policy of www.bestcarehome.co.uk is to use all legal avenues to pursue such offenders, including recovery of costs. You have been warned!
