Inspection on 01/07/09 for 4 High Street

What follows are excerpts from this inspection report. For more information read the full report on the next tab.

What the care home does well

The service provides a homely comfortable atmosphere for its residents. The staff team understand the importance of having sufficient information when choosing a care home and have produced the relevant documentation in a photographic format. There was evidence that staff were working towards showing that the people using the service were able to take control of their lives. Generally staff were aware of the need to support residents to develop their skills, including social, emotional, communication, and independent living skills. Each of the resident had a local GP and staff would support residents to attend the surgery and other medical appointments as necessary. Throughout the home there was evidence that residents had the specialist equipment that they needed. Robust medication systems were in place. The home had a satisfactory complaints policy that was accessible to residents and visitors. The policies and procedures for safeguarding adults were available and gave clear specific guidance to those using them. Staff knew when incidents needed external input and who to refer the incident to.

What has improved since the last inspection?

Since the last inspection there had been a number of improvements to the environment in which the people at 4 High Street lived. For example the kitchen had been upgraded and appliances, such as the cooker were at a height suitable for anyone, including a wheelchair user. The laundry area had been moved and the washing machines raised so that they were accessible to all. The biggest change was to the lounge. In the past this had been a conservatory. It had now been replaced with a brick built extension that had access to the outside. The staff had also worked hard over the last months to make the residents the centre of the care they received and were introducing user-friendly documentation into the home. The care plans had been completely re-written since the last inspection. They were now in a person centered style and written in more detail. Since the last inspection risk assessments had become much more focused on daily living and the associated risks. The new manager had introduced a weekly one to one session between residents and their key workers. On these days the relevant staff worked a 9-5 shift and worked totally with the resident doing tasks inside and outside the home. For example this would be the day for bedroom tidying, doing laundry, personal shopping and other personal recreational activities.

What the care home could do better:

There were requirements and recommendations made as a result of this inspectionincluding the need to document how residents have been supported to make decisions. Care plans need to be signed by the staff member writing them and where possible by the person they are for, or by someone on their behalf. There had been some changes to the way that activities were provided and delivered, but it remained difficult to see how what people did during the day reflected the desires and interests, because these had not been sufficiently recorded in the past. There must be more documentation to support that people using the service are spending their time as they would want. All staff must have regular documented supervision from their line manager. There must be a system that ensures all staff keep their training updated.