Inspection on 13/05/09 for Belmont Residential Care Home

This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 13th May 2009.

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

The inspector found no outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report, but made 3 statutory requirements (actions the home must comply with) as a result of this inspection.

Other inspections for this house

Belmont Residential Care Home 25/04/07

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 09/07/2009.

Random inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Belmont Residential Care Home Inglewhite Road Longridge Lancashire PR3 2DB 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: Simon Hill Date: 1 3 0 5 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Belmont Residential Care Home Inglewhite Road Longridge Lancashire PR3 2DB 01772782031 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: www.southerncrosshealthcare.co.uk Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Ashbourne (Eton) Limited care home 49 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 49 old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 0 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care home only - Code PC. 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. The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 49. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Belmont Residential Care Home is situated in a rural location on the outskirts of Longridge and can accommodate a maximum of 49 service users of both sexes. The home provides personal care with any requirements for nursing care provided by community nurses. There are 46 bedrooms, all with en suite facilities. The home is a single storey building divided into four units, each with its own lounge, dining room and kitchen. There are two other large communal rooms mainly used for activities and Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home social functions. Landscaped gardens and secure water features surround the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found: We carried out this visit to make sure medicines were being handled safely. The inspection was carried out by a pharmacist inspector and it lasted five hours. We checked medicines records, medicines stock and peoples care plans. Overall we found some shortfalls in the way medicines were being handled that were placing the health and wellbeing of people at unnecessary risk. When we checked the medicines records against medicines stock we found the system of stock control was not good enough to account for many medicines, notably those contained in traditional packets and liquid medicines. Records of medicines received into the home were not always accurate and remaining stock from the previous month was not properly carried forward so current stock could not be easily checked to show that medicines were being given to people correctly. We were able to carry out some detailed checks of the medicines and found some did not add up correctly, which showed that they had not been given to people at the right dose and in some cases missed completely. Over the last month several peoples records showed some of their boxed medicines had been missed even though the records were signed to show they had been given. We saw several recording mistakes that showed staff were not always checking the records carefully whilst giving medicines to people and in one case a teatime dose of a medicine had not been signed for the previous 16 days. Poor record keeping of medicines can lead to mistakes that could seriously affect the health and wellbeing of people who live in the home. We looked at the times medicines were given and found the majority of medicines were given at the right and best time for people, a recent review of peoples medicines had been made and some improvements had been made. However, we found two examples of medicines being given incorrectly with food instead of before. Medicines must be given to people at the right time to help make sure they work properly. We looked at a sample of care plans and records to check if medicines were properly reflected in them. Although we found some care plans were detailed we also found some lacked important information. One person that was refusing their medicines had not had a recorded assessment of their capacity so it meant their rights might not be properly considered. Another person that was looking after some of their own medicines did not have a clear care plan in place although a risk assessment had been carried out. Several people that were prescribed when required medicines did not have any information about how and under what circumstances they should be given. We gave some advice to the manager about these issues and immediate action was taken to up date some of the paperwork during the visit because having clear written plans helps make sure people get their medicines when they need them. We checked how controlled drugs (medicines that can be misused) were handled. A secure cupboard was used for storage but this was not properly attached to the wall so it did not meet the requirements of the law, the manager said a new cupboard had been ordered and this was due to be delivered soon. A special register was used for record keeping and the entries we checked were usually witnessed, accurate and complete. Witnessed records and secure storage of controlled drugs help prevent mishandling and Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 misuse. We saw an example of a recent audit (checks on medicines) that had been carried out and this was very detailed and covered many areas of medicines handling but this had not found the types of mistakes that we had found. The manager said staff had received regular medicines training and their competency in handling medicines had been formally assessed. We gave some advice about the general stock control of medicines and how to improve the audits to help make sure medicines are given to people correctly and to help make sure staff have the necessary skills. What the care home does well: 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 9 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 9 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 1 9 13 Contolled drugs must be stored in a legally compliant cupboard. This will help prevent mishandling and misuse. 20/08/2009 2 9 13 Accurate records of all medicines received into the home must be kept. This will make sure all medicines can be fully accounted for. 22/06/2009 3 9 13 Medicines must be given to people as prescribed. This is important because receiving medicines at the wrong time, wrong dose or not at all can seriously affect a persons health and wellbeing 22/06/2009 Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 9 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 Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 9 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. If you would like a summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. Copyright © (2009) Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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 CQC copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 9 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. Re-publishing this information is in breach of the terms of use of that website. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. The policy of www.bestcarehome.co.uk is to use all legal avenues to pursue such offenders, including recovery of costs. You have been warned!