CQC report explained · a nursing home, run by Barchester Healthcare
Laurel Bank
Westbourne Road, Lancaster, LA1 5EF
Rated Good: inspectors found the service performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. They found sufficient staffing, safe medicine systems, suitable recruitment checks and measures to manage risks such as choking, malnutrition and infection.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection, although people and professionals described staff as caring.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not rated in this inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found clear staff responsibilities, regular audits, feedback systems and effective work with outside agencies. The management team had introduced a process to monitor nutritional risks more closely.
What inspectors found, January 2024
Rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and the home was well led, after earlier concerns about nutrition and staff training were addressed.
This was an unannounced inspection on 20 December 2023. One inspector spoke with six people, a relative, a visiting professional, seven staff and two members of the management team. They also checked the building, care and medicine records, recruitment files and management systems.
The inspection was prompted partly by concerns about nutritional risks and staff training. The provider had taken effective action. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were both rated Good. The report says this meant people's outcomes were consistently good and their feedback confirmed this. The previous rating was also Good, published on 7 March 2020.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and could get help promptly. Inspectors found staff were available and familiar with people's needs.
“Yes, there's always a staff member around, so when I press the call bell I never have to wait long.” from the report
Managing health risks
The home reviewed risks linked to choking and malnutrition. Staff received choking and swallowing difficulty training, and the home worked with outside agencies to improve records and risk assessments.
“This included risks linked to nutritional intake, such as choking and malnutrition.” from the report
Safe medicines support
Inspectors found medicines were administered safely, with regular staff competency checks and audits. Staff followed people's care plans, risk assessments and preferences, including when people chose to manage their own medicines.
“Staff followed the person's medication care plan, risk assessment and preferences, such as when they chose to self-administer.” from the report
Clear management
Managers had clear communication systems and used audits, meetings and surveys to monitor care and gather views. The home also worked closely with outside professionals.
“The registered manager had created clear lines of communication for staff to understand their responsibilities in retaining people's safety and wellbeing.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How do you now monitor each person's risk of choking or malnutrition, and how often are their risk assessments reviewed?
- 02What ongoing training and competency checks do staff receive for choking, swallowing difficulties and nutritional support?
- 03How do you decide whether someone can safely self-administer medicines, and how is this reviewed?
- 04How do staffing levels and the use of familiar staff match the needs of people living here?
- 05What changes were made after the earlier concerns about nutritional risk management and staff training?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the report did not give new ratings for Effective, Caring or Responsive. This explanation was written from the published report of 12 January 2024 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 Laurel Bank
5 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2024Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2020Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2018Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 2011.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission. A service can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections, not every contact the CQC has had with the service.
Or stay at home with a private carer
Many people who look at care homes end up staying at home with a carer who comes in for a few hours a day, or lives in. PrimeCarers introduces you to self-employed carers you choose yourself: interviewed, ID and DBS checked, from about £20 an hour or £1,120 a week live-in.
Other services run by Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited
236 other services on the CQC register. A pattern across a group tells you more than one report.