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Inspection on 22/06/10 for Allan Court

Also see our care home review for Allan Court for more information

This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 22nd June 2010.

CQC found this care home to be providing an Good service.

The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.

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

Three requirements were identified at the last key inspection, these have been met. They were that the home must follow up information from a resident`s assessment, which they now do. That CQC must be provided with a copy of the electrical installation and evidence that the homes gas boiler has been serviced, this was confirmed at the visit. The home carries out comprehensive pre-admission assessments and obtains assessments and care plans from care managers and information from health care professionals. The records showed that people have their needs thoroughly assessed before moving into the home. Each resident has an individual are plan completed from information gathered in the preadmission assessment and added to throughout the placement. A range of assessments were used to identify people`s current health and personal care needs. This included assessments specific to assessing mental health and mental capacity of people with dementia and risks associated with vulnerability. Care plans were person centred and sensitively recorded and clearly showed individual`s preferences. There was evidence that plans had been updated following changes to people`s needs. The care plans were evaluated at least monthly in good detail. Staff maintain ongoing day and night reports on each person and supplementary records and charts to monitor personal hygiene, skin integrity, food intake, continence management, Temperature Pulse and Respirations, and general observations of their health and condition. Care records showed good communication with relatives including involvement in assessing needs, obtaining information on people`s background and social interests, and attending care reviews. This was confirmed by a visiting relative who told us that staff keep the family well informed about his mother`s welfare. He said he was very happy with the care and medical support provided. Physical and mental health needs were addressed in care plans and records showed people living at the home access a range of health care health care professionals. People`s nutritional needs were monitored well and records for individuals who had been identified as being nutritionally at risk showed good weight gain was achieved. Medication is administered by trained staff. Medication records have a front sheet profile with a photograph of the person and details of their GP and any allergies. Directions for prescribed medication were clearly recorded and the administration records were appropriately completed. Social profiles were recorded and people have care plans to meet their social needs. The home employs an activities co-ordinator and information about the activities was displayed in the home. We observed flexible routines such as people choosing to get up later and being offered breakfast and medication throughout the morning. Personal choices and support with making decisions in daily living were built into care plans for people with cognitive impairment. The meal time for the residents on the ground (general nursing unit) was a positive experience with people being offered the opportunity to have the meal either in the dining room or in the garden area. There is a table and chairs set out with a large umbrella to offer protection from the sun and this is used for social activity and meal times when the weather permits. Residents were being served one of the two options available on the day from which they were asked their preference the day before. One was served a salad that was not on the "usual menu" choice. People were being supported to have their meals by staff who were calm and sensitive to their needs. They were chatting to them and offering general encouragement to eat and drink. Preference sheets for this unit, to show people`s choice of meals, were kept. Those available demonstrated that they were being supported to make choices of meals. The food was well presented, nutritious and was well received by the residents. However as the meals are "pre-plated" by the kitchen the residents do not have the opportunity to have those vegetables that they do not like omitted from the meal. The home was clean and odour free and comfortably furnished. The upper floor unit is enhanced with areas of interest and tactile art, street signs and pictures of old Newcastle. Residents choose where to spend their time and some were in the lounges and in the garden while some spent their time in the bedrooms.

What the care home could do better:

One inspector observed lunch being served on the upper floor unit for people with dementia. The day`s menu was not displayed. Everyone was served the same main meal and pudding and no other options were offered. A person who had a soft diet was provided with only custard for pudding. Most staff were generally supportive and encouraging and two staff sat with people and assisted them with their meals. However the meal time was not well organised and there was delays to people receiving help to cut up food and to the pudding being served. Preference sheets for this unit, to show people`s choice of meals, were not being kept or monitored. Those available demonstrated little variation and it was questionable as to whether people were being actively offered choice of meals.

Random inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Allan Court Benwell Lane Benwell Newcastle Upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE15 6RU two star good service The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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 review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed review of the service. Details of how to get other inspection reports for this care home, including the last key inspection report, can be found on the last page of this report. Lead inspector: Suzanne McKean Date: 2 2 0 6 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Allan Court Benwell Lane Benwell Newcastle Upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE15 6RU 01912741100 01912741122 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Southern Cross OPCO Ltd Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : care home 60 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 60 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 26 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 60 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care Home with Nursing - Code N To service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the Home are within the following category: Old Age, not falling within any other category, Code OP - maximum number of places 60 Dementia Code DE, maximum number of places 26 Date of last inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 Brief description of the care home Allan Court is a purpose built three-storey building situated in the heart of Benwell. The home is at the end of a sloping drive where car parking is provided to the front of the building. There is a landscaped area to the front of the home. Local facilities are a short walk away and the city of Newcastle is easily accessible through public transport. Allan Court accommodates sixty elderly people with a physical or mental frailty, some of who require nursing care. All rooms are single occupancy. The top floor of the home has been updated to provide care and support for people who have a mental frailty. The fees for the home vary and are available from the home on request. Information about the home is available in the service user guide that also contains the statement of purpose and previous inspection reports. This is kept in the reception area of the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found: An unannounced visit was carried out by two regulatory inspectors 22nd June 2010, the visit was started at 9.30 and was completed by 15.30. During the visit we looked around the home, spoke to the residents and their visitors and spoke to the manager. We also looked at some of the records being kept including care plans and the Quality Assurance records. The requirements made at the last inspection on and none were identified as a result of this visit. What the care home does well: Three requirements were identified at the last key inspection, these have been met. They were that the home must follow up information from a residents assessment, which they now do. That CQC must be provided with a copy of the electrical installation and evidence that the homes gas boiler has been serviced, this was confirmed at the visit. The home carries out comprehensive pre-admission assessments and obtains assessments and care plans from care managers and information from health care professionals. The records showed that people have their needs thoroughly assessed before moving into the home. Each resident has an individual are plan completed from information gathered in the preadmission assessment and added to throughout the placement. A range of assessments were used to identify peoples current health and personal care needs. This included assessments specific to assessing mental health and mental capacity of people with dementia and risks associated with vulnerability. Care plans were person centred and sensitively recorded and clearly showed individuals preferences. There was evidence that plans had been updated following changes to peoples needs. The care plans were evaluated at least monthly in good detail. Staff maintain ongoing day and night reports on each person and supplementary records and charts to monitor personal hygiene, skin integrity, food intake, continence management, Temperature Pulse and Respirations, and general observations of their health and condition. Care records showed good communication with relatives including involvement in assessing needs, obtaining information on peoples background and social interests, and attending care reviews. This was confirmed by a visiting relative who told us that staff keep the family well informed about his mothers welfare. He said he was very happy with the care and medical support provided. Physical and mental health needs were addressed in care plans and records showed people living at the home access a range of health care health care professionals. Peoples nutritional needs were monitored well and records for individuals who had been identified as being nutritionally at risk showed good weight gain was achieved. Medication is administered by trained staff. Medication records have a front sheet profile Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 8 with a photograph of the person and details of their GP and any allergies. Directions for prescribed medication were clearly recorded and the administration records were appropriately completed. Social profiles were recorded and people have care plans to meet their social needs. The home employs an activities co-ordinator and information about the activities was displayed in the home. We observed flexible routines such as people choosing to get up later and being offered breakfast and medication throughout the morning. Personal choices and support with making decisions in daily living were built into care plans for people with cognitive impairment. The meal time for the residents on the ground (general nursing unit) was a positive experience with people being offered the opportunity to have the meal either in the dining room or in the garden area. There is a table and chairs set out with a large umbrella to offer protection from the sun and this is used for social activity and meal times when the weather permits. Residents were being served one of the two options available on the day from which they were asked their preference the day before. One was served a salad that was not on the usual menu choice. People were being supported to have their meals by staff who were calm and sensitive to their needs. They were chatting to them and offering general encouragement to eat and drink. Preference sheets for this unit, to show peoples choice of meals, were kept. Those available demonstrated that they were being supported to make choices of meals. The food was well presented, nutritious and was well received by the residents. However as the meals are pre-plated by the kitchen the residents do not have the opportunity to have those vegetables that they do not like omitted from the meal. The home was clean and odour free and comfortably furnished. The upper floor unit is enhanced with areas of interest and tactile art, street signs and pictures of old Newcastle. Residents choose where to spend their time and some were in the lounges and in the garden while some spent their time in the bedrooms. What they could do better: 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 2. Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 8 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements These 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, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 8 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, 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 Recommendations These 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 15 The meal time should be reviewed for residents on the care unit that provides care to those people with dementia to make sure that they are offered the same choices as other residents in the home and that these choices are monitored. Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 8 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report Care Quality Commission General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies of the National Minimum Standards –Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or got 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 Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. 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