Russell Hill Lodge

Russell Hill Lodge is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our inspection of the home's environment identified the need for redecoration and refurbishment in a number of different areas of the home because of the potential for infection and the potential risk to people and to their mental well-being. The provider carried out their own audit of the premises in December 2017. This identified the need for significant refurbishment of the home and a plan to carry out appropriate works designed to address these needs was implemented. At the time of this inspection work had already started on the refurbishment and development works. A number of improvements were noted. The registered manager and the regional manager told us the plan is to complete the works over the year.

People told us they felt safe. Staff were trained in adult safeguarding procedures and knew what to do if they considered people were at risk of harm or if they needed to report any suspected abuse.

There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs. Robust employment checks were in place to help to ensure new staff were appropriate to be working with and supporting people.

The risks to people's safety and wellbeing were assessed and regularly reviewed together with the people concerned. The process of rehabilitative care and support assisted people to maximise their potential to become independent and to manage their own safety. There were processes in place for the recording and investigation of incidents and accidents.

People were supported with the safe administration of their medicines and there were regular audits undertaken by the provider to monitor the processes in place and to ensure people remained safe.

People were supported by staff who were sufficiently trained and supervised. The provider liaised with other

services to share ideas and good practice.

The provider ensured people's nutritional needs were met. Where people were able, they planned their meals, shopped for ingredients and cooked their own food with the support of staff.

People's healthcare needs were met and staff supported them to attend medical appointments.

Staff had undertaken training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and were aware of their responsibilities in relation to people who might be deprived of their liberty. They ensured people were given choices and the opportunity to make decisions.

People were encouraged and supported by staff to become more independent by developing the necessary skills and knowledge. This included eating well and staying healthy. When people needed care and support from healthcare professionals, staff ensured people received this.

People were involved in planning their care and their views were sought and planned for as a central and important part of the process. The provider monitored people's changing needs and involved them in discussions about any changes that needed to be made to their care plans. Health and social care professionals told us the provider liaised well with them about people's care and support.

Staff respected people's privacy and treated them with respect and dignity.

People told us they were able to contribute to the assessment and care planning process of their care through a number of different ways that they found useful. This included Care Programme Approach (multi- disciplinary agency) meetings, key worker meetings and house therapy meetings.

We saw evidence that care plans reflected what people had said they would like and how they would like their care to be delivered. Care plans included details of people's social activities and of their engagement with the community. All care plans we inspected had been reviewed monthly to the date of this inspection.

People knew how to make a complaint or how to raise a concern if they needed to do so. The registered manager told us they reviewed all complaints to check if there were any trends emerging. None had been identified at the time of this inspection.

Staff said the new registered manager was doing a good job. They told us she was supportive and they felt able to raise any concerns they had with her. Staff said they were included in discussions about the service and they felt involved in service progression and development.

The results from the satisfaction survey just sent out in February 2018 were positive in all areas that questions were asked. They showed that people were satisfied with the support provided by staff and the services more generally in the home

The five questions we ask about services and what we found