CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Russell Hill Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Requires improvement
- Inspectors found poor repair and worn decoration in several areas, creating potential infection risks. Staffing, safeguarding, risk assessments and medicines management were otherwise found to be safe.
- Effective?
- Good
- People had detailed assessments and care plans, appropriate healthcare support and trained staff. Inspectors recommended adding more training specific to mental health rehabilitation and related needs.
- Caring?
- Good
- People said staff were kind, respectful and considerate. Staff respected privacy, choices, cultural and spiritual needs.
- Responsive?
- Good
- People were involved in their care plans, reviews and rehabilitation goals. Care plans included personal preferences, activities and hopes for more independent living.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The new registered manager was described as supportive, and staff felt able to raise concerns. Managers had an action plan covering care records, the environment and other improvements.
What inspectors found, April 2018
Rated Good overall, but inspectors found the home was not always safe because parts of the building needed urgent repair and refurbishment.
This was an unannounced inspection on 26 February 2018. The inspector spoke with people living at the home, staff, the registered manager, relatives and health and social care professionals. They also checked care records, staff files, medicines records and the building.
The home supported nine people, with capacity for 14 adults who had mild to moderate mental health needs. People said they felt safe and were treated with kindness and respect. Staff supported people with medicines, healthcare, meals, rehabilitation and becoming more independent.
The overall rating was Good. Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led were rated Good. Safe was rated Requires Improvement because parts of the building were in poor repair and could increase infection risks. Refurbishment had started, but more work was needed.
Kind and respectful care
People said staff treated them with kindness and respect. Inspectors saw staff respecting people's decisions and privacy.
“Staff always knock on the door to see if is ok to come in.” from the report
Support for independence
The rehabilitation programme helped people build skills such as shopping, cooking and managing medicines. People were also encouraged to seek work, training or more independent living.
“People were supported to maintain and build their independent living skills and people shared a goal to live more independently after their two year programme ended.” from the report
Involved in care planning
People were involved in assessments, care plans, reviews and meetings about their support. The care plans inspectors checked reflected people's needs, preferences and aspirations.
“People told us they felt they were listened to and were enabled to make decisions about their care appropriately.” from the report
Enough staff and safe medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to meet people's needs. Medicines records were complete, and the manager carried out regular audits.
“Our checks demonstrated medicines administration records (MAR) were completed appropriately and there were no gaps in staff signatures.” from the report
Building condition and infection risk
seriousSeveral areas needed redecoration and refurbishment, including the laundry room, kitchen, corridors, bathroom and some bedrooms. This was a safety concern and led to a breach of the premises regulation.
“The potential for infection arising especially in the laundry room and in the kitchen was seen as considerable given the state of repair in these areas of the building.” from the report
Refurbishment still unfinished
needs fixingWork had started and some improvements had been made, but the full programme was not complete at the inspection. Inspectors asked the provider to continue the work within the stated timescale.
“It is a recommendation to continue this work to achieve completion within the given timescales.” from the report
More specialist staff training
needs fixingInspectors recommended more training suited to the mental health and rehabilitation needs of people living at the home.
“It is a recommendation that more specific training appropriate to the needs of people living at Russell Hill Lodge be included in the staff training programme.” from the report
Recent staff turnover
minorStaff reported considerable turnover in the previous few months, which had been unsettling. They said the team was becoming more stable by the time of the inspection.
“Staff said there was a considerable turnover of staff in the last few months of last year.” from the report
- 01Which areas of the building have now been refurbished, and when will the remaining work be completed?
- 02What checks are being made to control infection risks in the kitchen and laundry room while refurbishment continues?
- 03What mental health, rehabilitation and behaviour-related training have staff completed since the inspection?
- 04How has staff turnover changed since the inspection, and how do you maintain continuity for residents?
- 05How would you support a resident who needed end of life care, given that this is not provided at the home?
This was an unannounced inspection of all five key questions, including the care provided and the home's premises and equipment. This explanation was written from the published report of 24 April 2018 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, July 2017
Russell Hill Lodge: Rated Good; inspectors found staff training had improved and the service was meeting requirements.
This was an unannounced, focused inspection on 20 March 2017. The inspector spoke with three staff members and checked staff training records after the visit.
At the previous inspection in January 2016, staff training and refresher training were not regular enough. This inspection found that the provider had identified the gaps and staff were attending regular training.
The service was rated Good for being effective. This rating relates to the area inspected, which was staff training. The inspectors said they would check that the improvements continued at the next comprehensive inspection.
Training had improved
The provider had found gaps in training and was taking steps to bring staff up to date. Records showed staff were completing regular training.
“Records showed staff were completing regular training. Training plans identified future training.” from the report
Induction for new staff
New staff were expected to complete an induction programme that included training based on the Care Certificate requirements.
“New members of staff were required to complete an induction programme, including training, that reflected the requirements of the Care Certificate.” from the report
Requirements were met
The focused inspection found that the service had improved and was meeting the relevant legal requirements.
“We carried out a focussed inspection to check staff were receiving appropriate training and found the service had made improvements and was meeting the requirements of the Regulations.” from the report
Improvements needed to continue
minorThe inspectors planned to check staff training again at the next comprehensive inspection. This means the family may wish to ask how the home is making sure the improvements last.
“We will check staff training at our next comprehensive inspection to ensure improvements have continued.” from the report
- 01How do you check that all staff complete refresher training on time?
- 02How have you maintained the improvements in training since this inspection?
- 03Which training is currently planned, and are any staff waiting to complete it?
- 04How do you make sure new staff complete the induction programme before taking on their full responsibilities?
- 05How do you monitor training in safeguarding, medicines, the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards?
This was a focused inspection of whether staff were receiving appropriate training; the report does not give current ratings for the other four areas. This explanation was written from the published report of 5 July 2017 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 Russell Hill Lodge
4 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodEffective: Good
- March 2016Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 11 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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