Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Bessmount House 1 Rose Hill Kingskerswell Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 3PP two star good service 29/07/2009 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: Graham Thomas Date: 1 8 0 5 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Bessmount House 1 Rose Hill Kingskerswell Newton Abbot Devon TQ12 3PP 01803872188 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: sara@watson62.eclipse.co.uk Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mr David George Simpson Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Mrs Jacqueline Sheila Simpson,Mr David George Simpson care home 11 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 11 old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home 0 2 9 0 7 2 0 0 9 Bessmount House is a care home that is registered to provide accommodation and care for up to eleven older people, who need residential care. The home is situated in the village of Kingskerswell and is close to the Health Centre, local shops, church and other amenities. The home has seven single bedrooms and two double bedrooms. All except one have en-suite toilet facilities. All the bedrooms are connected to a call bell system and have telephone and television points. There is a quiet sitting room and a lounge-dining room. Bathroom and toilet facilities are available on each floor. A chair
Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home lift provides access to the first floor. At the back of the house is an enclosed patio garden. The fees at Bessmount House range from 550 to 750 pounds per week. Additional charges are made for made for chiropody, hairdressing, outings and newspapers. The homes service users guide, which contains a copy of the inspection report, is located in the hallway. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found:
This brief random inspection took place in response a number of recent concerns and information received by the Commission. These concerned the homes financial arrangements, staffing and the operation of the homes bath. We spent approximately three hours at the home during which time we spoke with three people living there, two staff and the new manager. We also spoke with Mr. Simpson, one of the registered providers. During our visit we looked at a number of records including staffing rotas and staff recruitment records. We also looked around the home and checked the operation of the bath. One concern brought to our attention was that the homes bath had not been functioning for some time. Before our visit we asked Mr Simpson to write to us and tell us about how this was being dealt with. We did not receive a reply though when we telephoned Mr Simpson he gave assurances that the bath was being repaired. During our visit, we saw that the fixed hoisting seat to the bath was indeed working. We discussed with Mr Simpson how the day-to-day monies of people living in the home were managed. He told us that no monies were handled by the homes staff. Any costs were paid from the homes funds and relatives or representatives were invoiced with the amount. We looked at other areas of the homes operation to check that appropriate funding was being made available. We saw that there had been recent repairs to the lounge ceiling which had collapsed since our last inspection visit. Staff told us that they generally had the supplies and equipment they needed to carry out their work. They told us that there had previously been some delays in receiving their pay but this had now been resolved. Since this time they had been paid in cash and had not received pay slips. Mr. Simpson told us that his accountant had gone bankrupt. There was a plentiful supply of food in the home and this was confirmed by people living there who told us that they received plenty to eat and drink. We looked at how the home was staffed. Since our last visit the manager had resigned and a number of staff had left. When we visited on this occasion we met a new manager who had been in post for four days. We also learned of two recently recruited staff. The files of all three new staff revealed that the required checks had not been completed. For example, there was little information about either of the new staff. Mr Simpson confirmed that in neither case had a criminal records check or an ISA First check been completed. Mr Simpson told us that he had taken verbal references but there were no records of this. The new managers file contained details of her training and employment history but there were no records of checks for this employment. Such checks are essential to maintain the safety of people living in the home and it is a matter of serious concern that these had not been completed. None of the new staff, including the new manager, had commenced an induction. When we visited we found the home generally clean and free from offensive odours. The
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 people with whom we spoke were clean and well groomed though staff told us that access to the bath was limited by the numbers of staff on duty. People were following their own routines. For example, one person told us that she preferred to remain in bed until 10:30 and that this was her usual routine. Another was taking breakfast in the lounge when we spoke with them. Peoples call bells were nearby and they told us that staff came reasonably quickly when called. The staffing rota showed that there were two carers on duty throughout the day with one sleeping at night. with the manager on duty between 8:00am and 5:00pm. These staff carry out all the daily tasks including care, cooking, cleaning, and laundry At the time of our visit. there were ten people living in the home. Staff told us that two people required one-to-one assistance while another often required two-to-one help. This means that social attention would necessarily be limited. It also means that while staff are engaged with the various necessary tasks there would be a lack of more general oversight and supervision. Mr. Simpson told us that a cook was being employed but could not say when. We looked at medication storage. We found that medication requiring cool storage is held in the homes food storage refrigerator. This is not consistent with current good practice. 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 29 13 The registered providers 31/05/2010 must satisfy themselves that potential staff recruits are safe to work with people living in the home. This includes carrying out the checks specified in the Care Homes Regulations and associated schedules. This is to protect people from potentially unsuitable staff 2 37 17 The registered providers 24/06/2010 must maintain records of staff in the home as required in schedule 4 of the Care Homes Regulations and ensure that these are available for inspection This is so that staff recruitment processes can be checked by the Commission. 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 1 2 9 27 Medication requiring cool storage should be kept in a separate, dedicated refrigerator. Ancillary staff should be employed to enable carers to give more personal attention to people living in the home. 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. © Care Quality Commission 2010 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any format or medium for noncommercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. The source should be acknowledged, by showing the publication title and © Care Quality Commission 2010. 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!
