Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 11th June 2010. CQC found this care home to be providing an Excellent service.
The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection
and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Thornton Lodge.
What the care home does well The home has a very relaxed informal atmosphere and the people cared for have diverse needs particularly with regard to their mental health requirements. The registered provider/manager and other management staff are qualified in mental health and have lengthy experience in the provision of care. Their relaxed approach towards ensuring appropriate care is delivered has been successful where other care services have failed. Comments from the staff indicate that they appreciate the care, training and support received and are confident in their role. Staff are able to see the people cared for settle down, begin to improve and and meet their potential. Each person cared for is encouraged to be as independent as possible and there are a large number of communal rooms providing an opportunity for more privacy as required. Activities take place each day of the week. A member of staff is employed as ahandyman/driver who drives the home`s minibus. Excursions take place on a weekly basis and include trips to any football matches in the evenings and Saturdays; these can be attended by any person who chooses to do so in the home. One person cared for in the home who was spoken with commented about how happy she was and how one of her hobbies which was making cards was encouraged and she also provided training on making cards to the the people in the home. This helps her to have a purpose as well as fulfilling her choice of a hobby. The home is closely linked with Morcambe Football Club; members of the Club attend the home on a weekly basis to undertake wii-fit sessions; this has proved to be very popular with the people cared for in the home. Activities are varied and include board games and organised activities such as Bingo; Taichi, videos and entertainers; others cared for prefer a one to one approach to help them relax and go for a walk with or without staff. Facilities include, aromatherapists, chiropodists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The garden has been redesigned and is safe and secure providing seats and tables and a summer house; rabbits are kept within a hutch. There have been attempts to involve the people cared for in an agricultural area of the garden but, this has been unsuccessful. The people cared for in the home are encouraged to be part of the decision making in how the home is run and it is very much seen as their home and staff are there to support them. Residents meetings are held on a regular basis. Questionnaires are provided every three months with a format designed for the people cared for and one for visitors including General Practitioners and District Nurses. The results of the questionnaires are reviewed at the home`s management meetings. Training is excellent with the majority of staff obtaining a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ); training is ongoing. There are currently 22 staff and 20 have an NVQ in Care at level 2 or above; a further two staff are in the process of obtaining the qualification. The NVQ in Care is the nationally recognised qualification required for staff working in social care. Staff are provided with one to one supervision and the home has a training co-ordinator who sits down and talks to staff about any identified training need and records the details. The home has achieved the Investors in People award which is a recognised accreditation demonstrating good quality standards and a commitment to staff development. What the care home could do better: There were no requirements or recommendations found at this inspection. The home continues to let us know about things that have happened since our last key inspection and they have shown that they have managed issues well. They work well with us and continue to show that they provide a service that achieves positive outcomes for the people who live there. Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Thornton Lodge 43/47 Thornton Road Morecambe Lancashire LA4 5PD three star excellent 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: Susan Dale Date: 1 1 0 6 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Thornton Lodge 43/47 Thornton Road Morecambe Lancashire LA4 5PD 01524410430 01524415438 rod@thorntonlodge.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mr Rodney Harold Taylor,Mrs Karen Mary Taylor Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : care home 36 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 10 mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 36 0 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care home only - Code PC To people of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Old age, not falling within any other category - Code OP (maximum number of places: 10) Mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia - Code MD The maximum number of people who can be accommodated is: 36 Date of last inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 10 Brief description of the care home Thornton Lodge is situated on Thornton Road in Morecambe, and within easy reach of the sea front and the town centre. Accommodation is provided on four floors, with a passenger lift providing access to all floors, and a chair lift serving part of the first floor. The home has twenty single rooms and four double rooms, which are furnished in a homely style. Eleven of the rooms now have an ensuite facility. There are accessible toilets and bathrooms located on all floors near to bedrooms and living rooms. There are several communal lounges and a large dining area on the lower ground floor. A secure garden provides a pleasant environment with a patio and flowerbeds at the rear, with seating and tables. The home has a Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide that provides information about the services provided by the home and staff and is available from the home to any interested person. Current weekly fees are between £450:00 and £950:00 per week dependent upon assessment of need. Additional extras such as hairdressing and chiropody are charged for separately. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 10 What we found:
The site visit was unannounced and focused on key standards with regard to Health and Personal Care and Protection. Various documents were examined belonging to the people cared for and staff. The registered provider who is also the registered manager completed the Annual Quality Assurance Assessment prior to the site visit that provided some statistical information and how well the home was meeting standards of care. The registered provider/manager was present at the site visit as well as the manager of the home. Prior to the site visit surveys were provided to the persons cared for in the home and staff; their views and comments have been taken into account. Thirteen surveys were returned from the people being supported in the home and ten surveys were returned from staff. Comments from the people supported about what the home does well included: Activities for residents is regular and good. Good at making meals. Looks after us well. Good at helping us to get on and off the bus. Makes sure residents are comfortable and their daily needs are cared for. The home has a happy, friendly atmosphere. Always makes sure clients are cared for. Rooms are cleaned daily. Comments from staff included: Provides a friendly, caring, homely environment. Is considerate to the needs of everyone as an individual, nothing is too much trouble. I am very happy working here and get satisfaction from knowing I do my job well. The home cares for the clients and staff; meets the needs of the clients; it is a well run home. The home provides a high standard of training which is done regularly and also provides a high standard of care to the service users. Thornton Lodge meets all the needs of all residents in many aspects. Staff are friendly, caring and attentive to residents and care and support them to the best of their ability. Management staff have attended training on the Mental Capacity Act and changed the assessment format to ensure that correct information is obtained prior to the commencement of care. The Mental capacity Act (MCA) was fully implemented in 2008 and has been amended to include the deprivation of liberty safeguards that came into force on the 1st April 2009. The safeguards are in place for any person who lacks capacity and is unable to make decisions for themselves. Any person who lacks capacity can be confident that any decisions made on their behalf will be made in their best interests.
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 10 A number of the persons cared for in Thornton Lodge have a mental disorder and also may have physical requirements due to the ageing process. In order to ensure the health needs of the persons cared for are being met, a qualified nurse is employed on two mornings a week to ensure oversight of any health care plans. The owner is currently considering employing a nurse full time to deputise for the manager and provide in-house training to the staff on caring for people with mental health requirements. A number of people cared for in the home are funded by the Health Service because of the homes recognised expertise in caring for people with a mental disorder successfully. Any person from an ethnic background would be welcomed at the home and if they have any special needs the home would ensure that they are able to meet the individuals cultural,religious or dietary needs. Each person cared for in the home is cared for according to their wishes about how their needs are to be met. Care plans are reviewed very frequently and staff ensure that daily reports are recorded. The people cared for are involved at each formal review if they wish and there was evidence of close liaison with other health professionals within the documentation seen. All staff have received training on medication and the storage and recording of any medication provided meets the required standards. A form is signed on admission to the home with regard to a persons wishes to self administer any medication and a risk assessment would also be undertaken on the persons ability to self administer safely. The home has a suitable complaints policy and procedure; there have been no complaints received by the home of by the Care Quality Commission. All staff have received training in health and safety and safeguarding vulnerable people from abuse. The home is well maintained and has suitable adaptions and equipment to assist in the care of the people in the home. Each person is allowed to bring their own personal possessions including furniture and they can have their say in the decoration and furnishings within the home. There are now eleven bedrooms with en-suite facilities and the amount of communal space has been increased. New furniture has been purchased for the lounges and dining room. What the care home does well:
The home has a very relaxed informal atmosphere and the people cared for have diverse needs particularly with regard to their mental health requirements. The registered provider/manager and other management staff are qualified in mental health and have lengthy experience in the provision of care. Their relaxed approach towards ensuring appropriate care is delivered has been successful where other care services have failed. Comments from the staff indicate that they appreciate the care, training and support received and are confident in their role. Staff are able to see the people cared for settle down, begin to improve and and meet their potential. Each person cared for is encouraged to be as independent as possible and there are a large number of communal rooms providing an opportunity for more privacy as required. Activities take place each day of the week. A member of staff is employed as a
Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 10 handyman/driver who drives the homes minibus. Excursions take place on a weekly basis and include trips to any football matches in the evenings and Saturdays; these can be attended by any person who chooses to do so in the home. One person cared for in the home who was spoken with commented about how happy she was and how one of her hobbies which was making cards was encouraged and she also provided training on making cards to the the people in the home. This helps her to have a purpose as well as fulfilling her choice of a hobby. The home is closely linked with Morcambe Football Club; members of the Club attend the home on a weekly basis to undertake wii-fit sessions; this has proved to be very popular with the people cared for in the home. Activities are varied and include board games and organised activities such as Bingo; Taichi, videos and entertainers; others cared for prefer a one to one approach to help them relax and go for a walk with or without staff. Facilities include, aromatherapists, chiropodists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. The garden has been redesigned and is safe and secure providing seats and tables and a summer house; rabbits are kept within a hutch. There have been attempts to involve the people cared for in an agricultural area of the garden but, this has been unsuccessful. The people cared for in the home are encouraged to be part of the decision making in how the home is run and it is very much seen as their home and staff are there to support them. Residents meetings are held on a regular basis. Questionnaires are provided every three months with a format designed for the people cared for and one for visitors including General Practitioners and District Nurses. The results of the questionnaires are reviewed at the homes management meetings. Training is excellent with the majority of staff obtaining a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ); training is ongoing. There are currently 22 staff and 20 have an NVQ in Care at level 2 or above; a further two staff are in the process of obtaining the qualification. The NVQ in Care is the nationally recognised qualification required for staff working in social care. Staff are provided with one to one supervision and the home has a training co-ordinator who sits down and talks to staff about any identified training need and records the details. The home has achieved the Investors in People award which is a recognised accreditation demonstrating good quality standards and a commitment to staff development. What they could do better: If you want to know what action the person responsible for this care home is taking
Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 10 following this report, you can contact them using the details set out on page 2. Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 10 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 8 of 10 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 9 of 10 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. If you would like a summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. © Care Quality Commission 2010 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any format or medium for noncommercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. The source should be acknowledged, by showing the publication title and © Care Quality Commission 2010. Care Homes for Older People Page 10 of 10 - 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!
