Blackpool care home for people with dementia found to be breaking legal regulations

A Blackpool care home which specialises in mental health condition and dementia requires improvement and is now in break of legal regulations for for governance.

That was the finding of the latest inspection carried out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at Acorn Lodge Residential Care Home in Reads Avenue.

At the last inspection there in 2018, the home was rated good by the CQC, but at this latest one - carried out between April 17 and May this year - the Commission says it found standards had declined and the home was now in breach of legal regulations for governance.

Problems found at the inspection included that incident records were not always reviewed in full to support learning, while information in care plans and risk assessments lacked the necessary detail to ensure risks were well managed. However, the inspection found staff could respond to behaviour that communicated a need, emotion or distress consistently.

Several concerns with fire safety and the safety of the environment were also found, says the report, while employment history for new staff was not always completed in full and there were gaps to staff training and supervision. Care plans lacked information about people’s health and care needs, and were not always reviewed when people’s needs changed.

Consent forms had not always been signed by people, their next of kin or representatives and staff did not have training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to support their understanding of consent. Information was not always provided to people in line with the Accessible Information Standards and care plans did not include robust information about people’s communication needs.

The CQC report adds: “Checks and audits had not identified concerns we found during our inspection or ensure appropriate action had been taken to mitigate risk. Information was not robust, with care plans and risk assessments lacking adequate detail.

“However, the home considered the safety and continuity of care when people moved between services. Safeguarding systems protected people from abuse and neglect, and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards were in place for those who needed them.

“Staff supported people with positive risk taking. There were enough staff to safely meet people’s needs. The home was found to be clean and hygienic, and medicines were managed safely.”

Inspectors found staff worked well as a team, and information was shared effectively with health and social care partners, including when people became unwell and needed medical treatment. People’s outcomes were monitored regularly, with people being consulted about the effectiveness of their care.

The report adds that staff were kind and caring and treated people like individuals, continuity of care was prioritised and staff were well supported. “The provider had a clear vision which was embedded within the team, and managers lead by example,” adds the report.

“Following feedback, the manager took action to address some of our concerns around incidents, the environment, recruitment and training, care plans and records. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.”

While Acorn Lodge was said by the CQC to requires improvement overall, that was also the classification i the safety and well-led categories of the report. In the other categories - effective, caring, responsive - the home was found to be good.

Acorn Lodge was contacted for comment.