Care Home: Friars Lodge

What the care home does well The new manager has embraced her role and worked hard to introduce various audit systems which are well documented and are working effectively. The level of leisure opportunities and activities for residents has been increased. Person centred care is actively promoted within the home, and implemented into the care planning process. The views of residents and their families and other stakeholders, are being actively sought and acted upon to improve standards in the home. What the care home could do better: Staff are supervised regularly, and those that we spoke to generally felt well supported, however we were told that not all staff are receptive to the changes that have been implemented, consequently hindering the rate at which improvements are progressing. Random inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Friars Lodge 18 Priory Road Dunstable Bedfordshire LU5 4HR one star adequate service The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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 review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed review of the service. 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: Louise Trainor Date: 2 8 0 4 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Friars Lodge 18 Priory Road Dunstable Bedfordshire LU5 4HR 01582668494 01582668494 friarslodge@live.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Manager Post Vacant Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Friars Lodge Ltd care home 20 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 20 20 20 dementia old age, not falling within any other category physical disability Conditions of registration: 0 0 0 The home is registered to provide accommodation for twenty people over the age of 65, four of whom may be accommodated in two rooms for double occupancy where it can be shown that the decision to share was a positive choice. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Friars Lodge is a private residential care home and is registered to provide care for twenty older people. The home is located in a pleasant residential area of Dunstable and is within close proximity to the Priory and the town s amenities. The bedrooms are Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 Brief description of the care home on three floors that are accessible by a staircase and a newly installed shaft lift. Toilets and adapted bathing facilities are located for convenient access throughout the home. A large lounge with dinning area and a small visitorsquiet lounge are situated on the ground floor. The lounge area overlooks an established and well-maintained garden to the rear of the home. Parking is available for a few vehicles at the front of the building. However there is also some road parking close to the home. Fees for the home are between £457.06 and £550 a week depending on the room provided. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found: This Random Inspection was carried out in accordance with the Care Quality Commissions (CQC)s policies and methodologies. When we carried out the last Key Inspection in August 2009 a new manager had just been appointed into post. In December 2009 we received a letter of concern related to the alleged lack of efficiency in the running of the home. All of the issues raised were addressed and investigated satisfactorily by the Provider immediately. The aim of this inspection was was to focus on the Management outcome area of the National Minimum Standards Care Home Regulations for Older People. This visit was carried out on the 6th of May 2010. Unfortunately the manager was not present as she had pre arranged training commitments elsewhere. However we had the opportunity to talk with three members of staff, a number of residents and visitors, and look at audit documentation that is presently being used in the home. The deputy manager told us that over the last year the staff supervision had become regular, staff meetings and, resident and family meetings took place regularly, the standard of record keeping had improved and there had been an improvement in the level of activities for residents in the home. She told us that the last report had been actively recieved by the manager, and used to identify priority areas for improvement. We looked at the new medication audit that had been introduced and was working effectively, and also the health and safety file. This identified that regular checks were being carried out on fire call points, emergency door closures, smoke detectors, first aid provision, food hygiene and kitchen equipment, water temperatures and lifts. There is a monthly audit carried out on staff training to ensure that the manager is fully aware of any staff training needs, and a monthly audit of any accidents or incidents within the home, so that any trends can be identified and addressed efficiently. We have recieved regulation 37 notifications in a timely manner from the manager and we are aware that she follows local safeguarding protocols and reports incidents appropriately to the safeguarding team. We were told that the manager has actively introduced new leisure opportunities for the residents, which included recent trips to a local bowling centre and visits to a tea room. A member of staff has now been appointed to lead on activities on a full time basis. The manager has been pro active in introducing the Advocacy Service where residents have no family or representatives, this ensures that the opininons of all residents are sought and addressed. Quality Assurance has also been addressed through questionnaires that were given to residents, families and friends, and external professionals that are involved with the home. There had been a good response with 30 completed questionnaires in total being returned. We looked at minutes from monthly meetings where follow up of any of the issues raised had been discussed. The minutes from March 2010 included issues relating to activities in the home, fire safety and a Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 8 Home Book which has been introduced containing information about Advocacy Services and other useful topics. Information has also been put onto audio tape format to assist the residents to understand the information more easily. From talking to staff we established that since the new manager had come into the home, a number of staff had been resistive to the changes being implemented, and as a result some have chosen to leave the service. However the home is now fully staffed. We also spoke with the Provider by telephone during this inspection. She was satisfied that the service is being well managed and standards are improving. What the care home does well: 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 Older People Page 5 of 8 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements These are requirements that were set at the previous inspection, but have still not been met. They say what the registered person had to do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 8 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, 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 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 Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 8 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report Care Quality Commission 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 Older People 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: 03000 616161 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. 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