Harrowby Lodge Nursing Home is registered to provide accommodation, nursing and personal care for 30 people. It can provide care for adults of all ages including people who live with dementia and/or who have a physical disability.

The service was run by a company that was the registered provider. The company was made up of two directors. There was a registered manager in post. 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. In this report when we speak about both the company and the registered manager we refer to them as being, ‘the registered persons’.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Staff knew how to keep people safe from the risk of abuse and they helped to prevent avoidable accidents. Medicines were managed safely, there were enough staff on duty and background checks had been completed before new staff had been appointed.

Staff knew how to support people in the right way. People had been helped to eat and drink enough and they had been supported to receive all of the healthcare assistance they needed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. Staff recognised people’s right to privacy and promoted their dignity. Confidential information was kept private.

People had been given all of the care they needed and wanted to receive. People had been supported in an imaginative way to pursue their hobbies and interests. There was a system for quickly and fairly resolving complaints.

People had been consulted about the development of the service. Most of the necessary quality checks had been regularly completed to ensure that people received safe care. Staff were supported to speak out if they had any concerns and good team work was promoted. People had benefited from staff acting upon good practice guidance.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

Harrowby Lodge Nursing Home is registered to provide accommodation, nursing and personal care for 30 people. It can provide care for adults of all ages including people who live with dementia and/or who have a physical disability.

The service was run by a company that was the registered provider. The company was made up of two directors. There was a registered manager in post. 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. In this report when we speak about both the company and the registered manager we refer to them as being, ‘the registered persons’.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Staff knew how to keep people safe from the risk of abuse and they helped to prevent avoidable accidents. Medicines were managed safely, there were enough staff on duty and background checks had been completed before new staff had been appointed.

Staff knew how to support people in the right way. People had been helped to eat and drink enough and they had been supported to receive all of the healthcare assistance they needed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. Staff recognised people’s right to privacy and promoted their dignity. Confidential information was kept private.

People had been given all of the care they needed and wanted to receive. People had been supported in an imaginative way to pursue their hobbies and interests. There was a system for quickly and fairly resolving complaints.

People had been consulted about the development of the service. Most of the necessary quality checks had been regularly completed to ensure that people received safe care. Staff were supported to speak out if they had any concerns and good team work was promoted. People had benefited from staff acting upon good practice guidance.

Further information is in the detailed findings below

Prior to our visit we reviewed all the information we had received from the provider. During the visit we spoke with four people who used the service and one relative and asked them for their views. We also spoke with three care workers, the cook, the nurse in charge and the registered manager. We looked at some of the records held in the service including the care files for three people. We observed the support people who used the service received from staff and carried out a brief tour of the building.

We found where people were able to they gave consent to their care and treatment. A person who used the service told us, “I get asked what I want to do, very much so. Staff speak nicely to me. They get my clothes out the night before, they ask me what I want putting out for the morning.”

We found people were provided with a varied and nutritional diet. A person who used the service said, “We have nice meals, there is a wonderful choice. I am sure there are not many places who give such a choice.”

We found that suitable arrangements were in place to manage people’s medication and ensure they received any medication they needed. We saw the nurse approach people and explain it was time for their medication. The nurse explained to some people what the medication was and why they needed to take this.

We found there were sufficient and suitable staff employed who were supported through training. A person told us if they pressed the call bell, “Staff respond as quickly as possible. They are usually pretty quick.”

We found the provider maintained records that were accurate and fit for purpose. “Staff write on my records when they have done it (care task), they are very good at that.”

Prior to our visit we reviewed all the information we had received from the provider. During the visit we spoke with two people who used the service and a relative and asked them for their views. We also spoke with two care workers, an activities coordinator, the nurse on duty and the registered manager. We looked at some of the records held in the service including the care files for three people. We observed the support people who used the service received.

We found people gave consent to their care and treatment and received care and support that met their needs. A person told us, “I can decide what I want. I am enabled to be as independent as I can be.” We also saw information informing people about worship arrangements within the home. A person told us, “I go to communion when it is here.”

We found people were safeguarded from abuse. Staff knew how to respond to any allegation of abuse or raise concerns if they suspected any wrong doing. A person who used the service told us, “I have no worries about not being safe.”

We found the staff team were supported through training and individual support. A person told us, “Some staff said they had used the hoist so they knew what it was like to be hoisted. That was a good idea so they know how it feels for me.”

We found people felt they would be able to raise any comments or complaints and that these would be acted upon. A person told us, “I would say if anything needed to be said. I think they would listen to me.”

People told us they felt their needs were being met by the support they had received and this was provided in a way they wished. People said they were able to make the decisions they felt able to. One person told us, “I have got my own faculties so I can make decisions.” Another person said, “It is lovely and friendly, you can have a little joke.”

People told us they thought the home was friendly and homely. They said the food was good. A relative commented they appreciated the care staff took to ensure people were well presented. They said, “It’s the little things like making sure the beads match her outfit.”

We saw completed survey forms by people who use the service and relatives as well as a selection of thank you letters. These included many positive comments including, “Nothing was too much trouble” and “Staff are very professional and caring.”