The inspection took place on 12 and 13 July 2017 and was unannounced. This meant the provider or staff did not know about our inspection visit.

The service was last inspected in July 2016, at which time the service was in breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. At the inspection of July 2016 we identified that the provider was unable to provide assurances, due to the electrical installation being deemed as unsatisfactory, that the premises were safe. We also found not all staff training was up to date. At this inspection we found the provider had ensured all necessary action had been taken to ensure the electrical installation was safe and fit for purpose. We also found staff training was up to date and well managed. At our inspection of July 2016 we rated the service as Requires Improvement. Following this inspection we rated the service as Good.

Valley View and The Lodge is a care home in Penshaw, providing accommodation and personal care for up to 38 people, including people living with dementia. There were 34 people using the service at the time of our inspection. The home is divided into two areas: one area for elderly people, including people living with dementia, and the other area for younger adults with learning and/or physical disabilities.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like directors, 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.

All areas of the building were clean, with an infection control champion in place and another handyman recently hired.

The storage, administration and disposal of medicines were safe and in line with guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Controlled drugs were safely stored and regularly audited.

Risks to people were managed through person-centred risk assessments and care plans. Both were reviewed regularly and had regard to relevant professional advice.

Staff were aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and knew what to do if they identified potential signs of abuse. People we spoke with and their relatives felt staff helped keep them safe.

Pre-employment checks of staff were in place, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks, references and identity checks.

Visiting professionals had confidence in staff, as did commissioning professionals we spoke with.

Staff completed a range of training relevant to people’s needs and this training was regularly refreshed. Supervision and appraisal of staff was well organised and effective.

Staff interacted warmly with people who used the service and had built positive, friendly relationships with them.

People’s choices at mealtimes were respected and their views listened to when planning menus. Kitchen staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s specialised needs.

The premises benefitted from some aspects of dementia-friendly design and the registered manager was keen for more areas of the building to benefit from such additions.

Staff displayed a good knowledge of people’s needs and individualities, whilst care planning documentation was well organised and sufficiently detailed.

Individual and group activities were well planned, with people’s involvement, and meant people enjoyed a range of outings. These were enabled by the use of the service’s minibus.

The registered manager was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and best interest decision making, when people were unable to make decisions themselves. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive w

The inspection took place on 28 June and 1 July 2016. We last inspected the service on 24 October 2013 and found the provider was meeting the regulations we inspected against.

Valley View and The Lodge is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care for up to 38 people. The home is divided into two areas: one area provided care for elderly people and the other provided care for young physically disabled people. At the time of our inspection 27 elderly people and 8 young physically disabled people were living at the service. The home does not provide nursing care.

The home 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.

The provider had breached the regulations because the last check of the electrical installation system dated December 2014 was unsatisfactory. We found some actions classed as potentially dangerous were still outstanding at the time of our inspection.

You can see what action we have asked the registered provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.

Other health and safety checks were carried out regularly and were up to date when we inspected the home.

People were happy with the care they received. They told us kind and considerate care workers provided their care. One person said, “It is lovely. They look after me very well.” Another person commented, “The nurses [care workers] are very good. The nurses [care workers] are terrific, very friendly.” A third person told us, “[Staff are] very nice, they have always been good with us. They are good, they are nice girls, lovely people.”

People told us the home was safe. One person commented, “I feel safe here.”

Administration records for creams and ointments and fridge temperature checks were inaccurate. Medicines administration records (MARs) for all oral medicines were accurate. Medicines were stored securely.

Care workers showed they had a good understanding of safeguarding and the whistle blowing procedure. All care workers we spoke with said they would report concerns straightaway. They also said they felt concerns would be dealt with effectively. One care worker told us, “I wouldn’t have a problem using it [whistle blowing procedure]. I would have no issue with raising concerns.” Another care worker said, “Concerns would definitely be dealt with.”

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs in a timely manner. One person commented, “If I pull the chord in the bathroom they are there in a flash.” Another person said, “There seems to be plenty of staff around.” Recruitment checks were in place to ensure new care workers were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Incidents and accidents were logged and investigated with details recorded of the actions taken to keep people safe.

Care workers told us they were well supported and received regular one to one supervision. One care worker said, “I am really well supported. Any problems get sorted straightaway. We have supervision all the time.” Fire safety and moving and assisting training was overdue for most care workers. The outstanding training had been booked in for the week following our inspection. Other training was up to date.

The provider was following the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations were in place where required. We found examples of MCA assessments and best interests decisions made on behalf of people who lacked capacity.

People received the support they needed to meet their nutritional needs. One person told us, “Meals are okay. I am not a person for a hot dinner. I can have what I want to eat.