CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Lampton House
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, January 2023
Lampton House was rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found caring staff but safety checks and management systems were not reliable enough.
The inspection took place on 30 November and 9 December 2022. It was unannounced on the first day and announced on the second. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care and checked care, medicines, staffing, fire and management records.
The home was not always safe. Inspectors found worn walking-frame ferrules, several locks on the front door, a trip hazard, exposed wires and problems with medicines storage and risk assessments. Some issues were fixed before the second visit, but inspectors were not assured that the building was safe in a fire and referred it to the fire safety team.
The home's checks had not found several problems. These included missing risk assessments, out-of-date emergency files, untested electrical items, an unreported lift breakdown and the service rating not being displayed at first. This led to a breach of Regulation 17 for poor governance.
The overall rating fell from Good in 2019 to Requires Improvement. This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only. The other question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection.
Recruitment checks
The home had completed appropriate checks before staff worked with vulnerable adults, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks and references.
“People were supported by staff who had checks completed to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.” from the report
Responsive leadership
The provider and registered manager were described as approachable. The registered manager worked alongside staff and acted on several issues identified during the inspection.
“Following concerns raised on the first day of our inspection we found the registered manager and the provider had taken our feedback seriously” from the report
Some fire planning
People had individual evacuation plans, and records showed that fire evacuation checks were completed.
“People had personalised (PEEPS) fire evacuation plans in place.” from the report
Fire and premises safety
seriousInspectors found several physical safety problems. They were not assured that the building was safe in a fire and referred the matter to the fire safety team.
“We made a referral to the fire safety team so they could review the safety of Lampton House.” from the report
Weak management checks
seriousThe home's quality checks did not identify a number of safety and record-keeping problems. This was a breach of Regulation 17.
“The provider had failed to ensure effective systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.” from the report
Medicines and risk records
seriousRisk assessments were missing for paraffin-based creams. Medicines that people had refused were not always locked away safely before disposal.
“However, where people had refused their medicines this medicine was taken to the registered managers office and not locked safely away prior to being disposed of.” from the report
Out-of-date emergency information
needs fixingSome grab and go files used in an emergency were no longer current. The home was still updating around 10 files during the inspection.
“Initial grab and go files that were used in the event of an emergency such as hospital admission or a fire were out of date and no longer current.” from the report
Occasional staffing concerns
needs fixingTwo people said they did not always feel there were enough staff, including at particular times of day and in the evening. Inspectors found enough staff on the days they visited.
“Two people told us told us they did not always feel supported by enough staff on occasions.” from the report
- 01What was the outcome of the fire safety team's review, and have all recommended actions been completed?
- 02How are you now checking that medicines people refuse are locked away safely before disposal?
- 03Have all paraffin-based creams been covered by individual risk assessments?
- 04Are the grab and go files, about me files and other emergency records now complete and up to date?
- 05How do you monitor staffing levels at the times people previously said felt short, especially in the evening?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 20 January 2023 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.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Lampton House was inspected but not rated; inspectors found infection control arrangements largely in place during a coronavirus outbreak, with some issues needing attention.
This was an unannounced, targeted inspection on 25 November 2020. It followed concerns about infection prevention and control. Inspectors looked at only part of the Safe question.
There had been a coronavirus outbreak. At the inspection, 26 of 27 residents and 41% of staff had tested positive, but the isolation period had ended. Inspectors found processes in place to help keep people safe, including staff training, personal protective equipment, testing and restrictions on visitors.
There were some weaknesses. One staff member entered without putting on personal protective equipment straight away. Staff changing clothes had to walk through the home to reach the staff room, and some staff said touch points were not cleaned regularly.
The service was not given a rating at this inspection. Its previous Safe rating was Good, but that rating was not reviewed because inspectors looked at only part of the question. The other key questions were not inspected.
Staff training
Staff had training in infection control and in putting on and removing personal protective equipment.
“Staff had received training in infection control, including how to safely put on and take off personal protective equipment” from the report
Outbreak monitoring
The registered manager kept in contact with external health and commissioning teams while managing the outbreak.
“The registered manager had regular contact with Public Health England and the local commissioning team to monitor the outbreak.” from the report
Testing arrangements
The home was carrying out regular testing for staff and residents, with arrangements for new admissions during the outbreak.
“The registered manager ensured regular testing was carried out, weekly for staff and monthly for people living in the home” from the report
Visitor controls
Visitors were stopped during the outbreak, and the home had a process for checking visitors when visits could restart.
“The provider had stopped all visitors coming into the home, this was to help contain the virus.” from the report
PPE on entry
needs fixingOne staff member entered the building without putting on PPE immediately. The manager said staff would be reminded about the policy.
“We saw staff wearing appropriate PPE and changing their PPE when moving from room to room, except for one staff member who entered the building without putting their PPE on immediately.” from the report
Staff changing route
needs fixingStaff who travelled together were expected to change clothes, but they had to walk through the home to reach the staff room. The provider was considering a nearer changing area.
“However, the staff had to walk through the home to reach the staff room.” from the report
Cleaning touch points
needs fixingThree staff members said touch points were not cleaned regularly, although the manager said cleaning was scheduled at least four times a day.
“The environment looked clean but three staff members we spoke with told us touch points were not cleaned regularly.” from the report
Testing consent records
minorThe manager said relatives gave consent for testing when residents could not consent. The report said this information should be recorded under the Mental Capacity Act.
“this information should be recorded in line with the Mental Capacity Act.” from the report
- 01How do staff now put on PPE immediately when they enter the home?
- 02Have you created a changing area near the entrance so staff do not walk through the home after travelling together?
- 03How often are touch points cleaned now, and how is this checked?
- 04How do you record consent for coronavirus testing when a resident cannot consent?
- 05What arrangements are currently in place for visits and keeping in touch with relatives?
This was an unannounced targeted inspection of infection prevention and control within the Safe question; the previous Safe rating was not reviewed and the other key questions were not inspected. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 December 2020 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 Lampton House
3 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- January 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- September 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- February 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
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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