CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lammasmead
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People said they felt safe. Risk assessments were reviewed, medicines were stored and administered safely, and there were enough staff. Inspectors noted that not all accident and incident forms recorded lessons learnt.
- Effective?
- Good
- People received support with health appointments, food choices and daily decisions. Staff training and supervision were in place, although epilepsy training was not recorded on the training matrix.
- Caring?
- Good
- People said staff were kind and treated them well. Staff supported privacy, dignity, independence and involvement in care planning.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were described as comprehensive, current and person-centred. People were supported with activities, relationships, family visits, complaints and end-of-life choices.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had a registered manager and regular checks of medicines, safety, infection control, care plans and other areas. Management cover was provided by another local service when the manager was away.
What inspectors found, March 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a few records and training points to follow up.
This was an unannounced inspection of the home. Inspectors spoke with all three people living there and two staff. They reviewed two care records, medicine stocks and records, audits, building safety records and information sent by the provider.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. People said they felt safe and liked living there. Inspectors found kind staff, enough staff, up-to-date care plans, safe medicines, good health support and a clean home.
There were some smaller shortfalls. Not every accident and incident form recorded lessons learnt, epilepsy training was not shown on the training matrix, and two people were still waiting for local authority DoLS assessments. The overall Good rating did not change from the previous inspection in April 2016.
Personalised support
Care plans reflected people's preferences, routines, health needs and abilities. People were involved in planning and reviewing their care.
“The care records were person centred.” from the report
Safe medicines and risk management
Risk assessments were regularly reviewed and gave staff clear guidance. Medicine storage, checks and administration were found to be safe.
“Medicines management and storage was safe.” from the report
Continuity of care
There were enough staff and little staff turnover. Inspectors found that staff knew people well.
“This meant staff knew people well and continuity of care was provided.” from the report
Choice and activities
People chose food, took part in household tasks and were supported with outings, hobbies, family visits and local activities.
“People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives” from the report
Lessons from incidents were not always recorded
needs fixingSome accident and incident forms did not include the lessons learnt. The manager said all forms would be updated to capture this information.
“The service used a range of forms and not all of them recorded this information.” from the report
Epilepsy training record was incomplete
minorThe manager said staff had received epilepsy training, but this was not recorded on the training matrix. A refresher course was also due soon.
“The registered manager told us staff had been trained in managing epilepsy although it was not on the training matrix” from the report
Some DoLS assessments were outstanding
needs fixingOne person had recently been assessed, but two others had been referred some time earlier and were still waiting for the local authority to assess them.
“the other two people had been referred to DoLS some time ago but the local authority had not yet been out to assess them.” from the report
- 01How are lessons learnt from accidents and incidents recorded now, and can you show us a recent example?
- 02How do you record and check staff epilepsy training and refresher training?
- 03What is the current position on the two outstanding DoLS assessments mentioned in the report?
- 04How will my relative be involved in their care plan and regular reviews?
- 05What activities and community outings would be available for my relative?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five key questions; the overall Good rating had not changed since the previous inspection in April 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 March 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Lammasmead
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- March 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Hertfordshire
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £980 to £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“She handled the new situation in front of her with such professionalism and I felt I could trust her 100%.”
“She was v competent and confident and we felt our mum was safe in her care. She supported us through a difficult time.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.