key inspection report · northumberland ne22 5uh the quality rating for this care home is: two star...

Inspecting for better lives

Key inspection report

Care homes for adults (18-65 years)

Name: Woolsington Court, 48-49

Address: 48-49 Woolsington Court BedlingtonNorthumberlandNE22 5UH

The quality rating for this care home is: two star good service

A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home, agency or scheme is meeting the needs of the people who use it. We give a quality rating following a full assessment of the service. We call this a ‘key’ inspection.

Lead inspector: Date:

Anne Brown 0 6 0 4 2 0 0 9

Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) of 27

This is a report of an inspection where we looked at how well this care home is meeting the needs of people who use it. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better.We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service.

After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area.

Outcome area (for example Choice of home)

These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them:

This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection.

This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection.

This is what people staying in this care home experience:

Judgement:

This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor.

Evidence:

This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement.

Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering from the Stationery Office is also available: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop

The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to:

• Put the people who use social care first• Improve services and stamp out bad practice• Be an expert voice on social care• Practise what we preach in our own organisation

Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000.

http://www.tso.co.uk/bookshop


Reader Information

Document Purpose Inspection report

Author CSCI

Audience General public

Further copies from 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line)

Copyright Copyright © (2009) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified.

Internet address www.cqc.org.uk


Information about the care home

Name of care home: Woolsington Court, 48-49

Address: 48-49 Woolsington CourtBedlingtonNorthumberlandNE22 5UH

Telephone number: 01670823139

Fax number: 01670823139

Email address: [email protected]

Provider web address:

Name of registered provider(s): Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Trust

Type of registration: care home

Number of places registered: 3

Conditions of registration:

Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable):

Under 65 Over 65

learning disability 3 0

Additional conditions:

Date of last inspection

Brief description of the care home

Woolsington Court is a Northgate and Prudhoe NHS Trust home that accommodates three adults with a learning disability. The residents can live in the home for as long as they wish provided their individual needs can be safely and appropriately met. The home is situated in a small residential estate in Bedlington. The accommodation is a ground floor flat and each resident has their own bedroom and shares the communal areas, which include a kitchen/dining room and a lounge. The home is in the centre of Bedlington and is close to a range of local amenities such as shops, pubs and restaurants. The home has its own transport. The fees are £932.63 per week. Inspection reports and information about the home are readily available.


SummaryThis is an overview of what we found during the inspection.

The quality rating for this care home is: two star good service

Our judgement for each outcome:

Choice of home

Individual needs and choices

Lifestyle

Personal and healthcare support

Concerns, complaints and protection

Environment

Staffing

Conduct and management of the home

peterchart

Poor Adequate Good Excellent

How we did our inspection:

The quality rating for this service is 2 star. This means that the people who use this service experience good quality outcomes. We have reviewed our practice when making requirements, to improve national consistency. Some requirements from previous inspection reports may have been deleted or carried forward into this report as recommendations, but only when it is considered that people who use services are not being put at significant risk of harm. In future, if a requirement is repeated, it is likely that enforcement action will be taken. How the inspection was carried out

Before the visit We looked at Information we have received since the last inspection on 3rd May 2007. How the service dealt with any complaints and concerns since the last visit. Any changes to how the home is run. The provider's view of how well they care for people. The views of people who use the service. An unannounced visit was made on 16th April 2009. During the visit we Talked to the manager and the staff on duty. Talked to people living in the home. Observed the interaction between the staff and the people using the service. Looked at information about the people who use the service and how well their needs are met. Looked at other records that must be kept. Checked that staff had the knowledge, skills and training to meet the needs of the people they care for. Looked around the building to make sure they were clean, safe and comfortable. Checked what improvements had been made since the last inspection. We told the manager of the home what we found.


What the care home does well:

The staff team make every effort to ensure the home is pleasant and comfortable. People living in the home receive a good standard of care and the staff are committed to treating people as individuals and ensuring they can make personal choices. The relationships between staff and the people who live in the home are good and personal support is provided in a way that promotes their privacy and dignity. Each person living in the home is supported to keep in touch with their family and friends. They are given support to lead fulfilling lives and enjoy facilities in the local community. Holidays have been arranged for later in the year. One person said he was looking forward to going on holiday. People are encouraged to attend to their personal care needs as much as they can. Staff provide them with opportunities to choose their own clothing and haircuts. The care plans are person centred and up to date. This provides the staff with good information to meet people's individual needs. Opportunities for training are provided which enables staff to learn new skills to support the people living in the home in all aspects of their lives. A survey received from someone living in the home said "I love living at Woolsington Court and all the staff".

What has improved since the last inspection?

A person centred planning meeting has been held for each person living in the home. The complaints procedure is now displayed in the visitors book. The corridor outside the shower room has been redecorated.

What they could do better:

The wardrobe must be repaired in one bedroom to provide adequate storage space for the person occupying the room.

If you want to know what action the person responsible for this care home is taking following this report, you can contact them using the details set out on page 4.

The report of this inspection is available from our website www.cqc.org.uk. You can get printed copies from [email protected] or by telephoning our order line –0870 240 7535.


Details of our findings

Contents

Choice of home (standards 1 - 5)

Individual needs and choices (standards 6-10)

Lifestyle (standards 11 - 17)

Personal and healthcare support (standards 18 - 21)

Concerns, complaints and protection (standards 22 - 23)

Environment (standards 24 - 30)

Staffing (standards 31 - 36)

Conduct and management of the home (standards 37 - 43)

Outstanding statutory requirements

Requirements and recommendations from this inspection


Choice of home


People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them, what they hope for and want to achieve, and the support they need.

People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, and people close to them, can visit the home and get full, clear, accurate and up to date information. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between the person and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money.


Judgement:

People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service.

The needs and wishes of each person who lives in the home have been well assessed. This helps to ensure that staff can provide the people with the care and support they require.

Evidence:

The service user guide contains pictures to help people using the service to understand it. The staff member on duty said they spend time explaining this and a copy is available on each case file. The home conducts a thorough pre admission assessment taking into account people's needs and wishes. This includes obtaining the Care Management Assessment and information is sought from carers, relatives and relevant health care professionals. The assessments address all aspects of the people's lives. No admissions have been made to the home since the last inspection.


Evidence:

Assessments are reviewed on a regular basis. Care managers and other interested parties are involved in this process.


Individual needs and choices


People’s needs and goals are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. People are able to make decisions about their life, including their finances, with support if they need it. This is because the staff promote their rights and choices. People are supported to take risks to enable them to stay independent. This is because the staff have appropriate information on which to base decisions.

People are asked about, and are involved in, all aspects of life in the home. This is because the manager and staff offer them opportunities to participate in the day to day running of the home and enable them to influence key decisions. People are confident that the home handles information about them appropriately. This is because the home has clear policies and procedures that staff follow.


Judgement:


Detailed care plans give information to staff to help ensure that individual needs are met. The people who live at the home get personal support and staff make sure that their privacy, dignity and independence are respected.

Evidence:

There are care plans in place which contain details of each person's needs and the actions to be taken by the staff to meet these needs. They confirmed that specialist services are provided to meet the individual needs of the people living in the home. All the people living in the home have a care manager from the Local Authority who reviews the care plans to ensure any changes in need are met. The senior staff in the home evaluate the care plans every month to ensure they are up to date. This helps to ensure individual needs are being met.


Evidence:

The staff understand the importance of the people living in the home making decisions in their lives and encourage them to make personal choices. Risk assessments are in place to address safety issues and also enable people to have a better quality of life. Where limitations are in place, the decision has been discussed and is recorded. The staff have undergone training on equality and diversity and these issues are carefully considered when writing the care plans. The staff were seen to be respecting people's privacy and dignity. The staff encourage and support the people to make decisions about all aspects of their lives. Staff meetings are held on a regular basis and people living in the home are encouraged to attend. They are also consulted about the day to day running of the home individually.


Lifestyle


Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They can take part in activities that are appropriate to their age and culture and are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives and the home supports them to have appropriate personal, family and sexual relationships. People are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. Their dignity and rights are respected in their daily life. People have healthy, well-presented meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them.

People have opportunities to develop their social, emotional, communication and independent living skills. This is because the staff support their personal development. People choose and participate in suitable leisure activities.


Judgement:


Links with the community and opportunities to participate in social and personal development activities are good.

Evidence:

The people living in the home enjoy a variety of activities, which include visiting shopping centres, garden centres, meals and snacks out, hydro therapy pool, walking in the countryside, library and aromatherapy. One person attends an adult training centre three days a week. He said he enjoys this and likes to see his friends. Last year the staff supported him to go on holiday to Lanzarote with a friend he had met at the centre. Two people living in the home are going on Holiday to Blackpool and the other is going


Evidence:

to Edinburgh Tattoo. People are supported to maintain very close links with their families. Visitors are welcome in the home and staff support people to visit their family and friends in the community. People living in the home are encouraged to be involved in daily living tasks according to their individual capabilities. Menus are planned on a four weekly basis. Healthy eating is encouraged and alternatives are always available. Shepherds Pie was being prepared for the evening meal. The person living in the home who was present, said he enjoyed this and other food he was served. It was noted that people living in the home were purchasing fruit juices and canned drinks to aid certain medical conditions. The manager agreed that in future this would be purchased from the provisions budget.


Personal and healthcare support


People receive personal support from staff in the way they prefer and want. Their physical and emotional health needs are met because the home has procedures in place that staff follow. If people take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it in a safe way.

If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them to feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes.


Judgement:


The health needs of the people who live in the home are well monitored and promoted by the staff to help maintain their wellbeing.

Evidence:

The people living in the home are registered with local GP practices and referrals are made to specialist health care services if appropriate. This information is well recorded in the case files. A review is to be held soon to discuss whether one person is capable of giving his consent to be sedated at his next dental appointment. The people living in the home are encouraged to attend to their own personal care needs according to their capabilities. They also choose their own clothes and hairstyles so their appearance reflects their individuality. Staff have recently referred one person for a physiotherapy assessment on their bathing needs.


Evidence:

The staff on duty were able to describe how people are provided with personal support when they need it. This is fully recorded and the records showed that staff have had training in how to care for people with specific needs. The system for storage and handling medications were looked at and found to be appropriate. The manager confirmed that all staff had received adequate training.


Concerns, complaints and protection


If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them, know how to complain. Their concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse, neglect and self-harm and takes action to follow up any allegations.

There are no additional outcomes.


Judgement:


There is a good system to ensure complaints are properly dealt with and training in adult protection has been provided for the staff, which helps to protect people from abuse.

Evidence:

An appropriate complaints procedure is in place and a copy has been given to all the people living in the home. The spend time with each person living in the home explaining the procedure to them. The procedure in also available in a CD format. A complaints book is in place to record the nature of the com-laint and the outcome of the investigation. This ensures complaints are dealt with effectively and to the satisfaction of the person making the complaint. One complaint had been received and this had been satisfactorily dealt with by the locality manager. The manager stated that the staff had undergone training on the protection of vulnerable adults. Refresher training is part of the mandatory training programme. A whistle blowing policy is in place for staff to report any concerns about poor practice in the home. A sample of records was examined for money kept on behalf of the people living in the home. Appropriate records, receipts and signatures are retained.


Environment


People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, comfortable, pleasant and hygienic.

People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. People have enough privacy when using toilets and bathrooms.


Judgement:


The home is safe, comfortable and clean providing a pleasant environment for people to live in.

Evidence:

The staff make every effort to ensure the home is a comfortable and pleasant place to live. All areas of the home were homely, comfortable and well furnished. Each person living in the home has their own bedroom. These have been decorated and personalised according to their wishes and tastes. Bedrooms are equipped to ensure the comfort and safety of the individuals and specialist equipment is provided to promote independence. The wardrobe door in one bedroom was broken and this was causing difficulties when opening the drawer underneath. Suitable bathing equipment is provided to meet the needs of the people living in the


Evidence:

home. Staff receive infection control training as part of their mandatory training. Protective clothing is readily available and liquid soap and paper towels are provided to prevent the spread of infection. All areas were clean, hygienic and free from offensive odours. The manager has recently purchased a steam cleaner to help prevent the spread of infection. There is a small garden area for people to enjoy in the warm weather.


Staffing


People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent, qualified staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable. People’s needs are met and they are supported because staff get the right training, supervision and support they need from their managers.

People are supported by an effective staff team who understand and do what is expected of them.


Judgement:


There are enough staff, who have been properly recruited, trained and supported, to meet the needs of the people living in the home.

Evidence:

The manager and staff on duty confirmed that staffing levels are flexible to help ensure that people living in the home can enjoy preferred activities on an individual basis. The staff team are well trained and competent to meet the individual needs of the people living in the home. They continue to demonstrate good values and attitudes and treat people with respect. No new staff have been recruited to this home over the past twelve months, however comprehensive recruitment procedures, that are managed from the Trust's central office, are in place. CQC have an agreement with Northgate and Prudhoe Trust that any staff records that need to be examined can be accessed either as a pre arrangement or without notice.


Evidence:

All staff have achieved a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 or above. They have completed training on equality and diversity. Two people have attended a workshop on Deprivation of Liberty and there is a programme in place for all staff to attend. The staff receive formal supervision sessions at appropriate intervals and there is a programme in place to make sure these are up to date.


Conduct and management of the home


People have confidence in the care home because it is run and managed appropriately. People’s opinions are central to how the home develops and reviews their practice, as the home has appropriate ways of making sure they continue to get things right. The environment is safe for people and staff because health and safety practices are carried out.

People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately, with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. They are safeguarded because the home follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and makes sure staff understand the way things should be done.


Judgement:


The culture and systems in the home help to ensure that the service is led by the needs and wishes of the people living there, and protects them from harm.

Evidence:

The manager is qualified and has experience in working with adults with learning disabilities. The staff confirmed that she is supportive and approachable. Meetings are held in the home at least six times a year and are minuted. The people living in the home are invited to the meetings and are consulted on a regular basis. The organisation has a comprehensive internal quality assurance system in place known as "Total Quality Management". This helps ensure that standards continue to be met. Maintenance contracts are in place and fire safety equipment is tested at the appropriate intervals. This helps to ensure the safety of people living in the home and


Evidence:

the staff team. The staff confirmed that they had received up to date health and safety training. No safety hazards or unsafe practices were observed during the inspection.


Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection?

Yes £ No R

Outstanding statutory requirementsThese are requirements that were set at the previous inspection, but have still not been met. They say what the registered person had to do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards.No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for

action


Requirements and recommendations from this inspection:

Immediate requirements:These are immediate requirements that were set on the day we visited this care home. The registered person had to meet these within 48 hours.No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for

action

Statutory requirements

These requirements set out what the registered person must do to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The registered person(s) must do this within the timescales we have set.No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for

action

RecommendationsThese recommendations are taken from the best practice described in the National Minimum Standards and the registered person(s) should consider them as a way of improving their service.No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations

1 17 Fruit juice and canned drinks should be purchased from the provisions budget if it is felt they will promote the medical conditions of people living in the home.

2 37 This refers to standard 25: The wardrobe door in one bedroom should be mended or replaced to provide adequate storage facilities


Helpline:

Telephone: 03000 616161 or

Textphone: or

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.cqc.org.uk

We want people to be able to access this information. If you would like a summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website.

Copyright © (2009) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, free of charge, in any format or medium provided that it is not used for commercial gain. This consent is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and on proviso that it is not used in a derogatory manner or misleading context. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified.

key inspection report · northumberland ne22 5uh the quality rating for this care home is: two star...

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