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Inspection on 24/06/09 for Birling House

Also see our care home review for Birling House for more information

This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 24th June 2009.

it is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Good.

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.

Annual service review Name of Service: Birling House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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 review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.   Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?   No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Geoffrey Senior Date of this annual service review: 2 4 0 6 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: 91 The High Street Snodland Kent ME6 5AL 01634244689 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability physical disability Conditions of registration: The Mortimer Society Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 27 27 0 0 The maximum number of service users to be accommodated is 27. The registered person may provide the following category/ies of service only: Care home only - (PC) to service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Physical disability (PD) Learning disability (LD). Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service Birling House provides care and support to adults with Huntingdons Disease and associated physical disability. It also provides support to a number of people with learning disabilities. Birling House is a large home situated in the town of Snodland. The shops and local amenities are a short drive away and the train station is located 2 minutes away. There are 3 vehicles for use by residents including wheelchair adapted transport. Residents are accommodated in single bedrooms with the exception of 2 people who have chosen to share a room. Residents have access to several communal Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 lounges, a dining room, sufficient bathroom facilities and a large garden. Staff support is provided 24 hours per day. Fees range from #800 to #1200 per week. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 7 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review: What did we do for this annual service review? We,the commission, looked at all the information that we have received, or asked for, since the last inspection. This included, The Annual Quality Assurance Assessment AQAA that was sent to us by the service. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. Information we have about how the service has managed any complaints What the service has told us about things that have happened in the service. These are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous key inspection and the results of any other visits we have made to the service in the last twelve months. Relevant information from other organisations Discussion with the Manager What has this told us about the service? The home returned the Annual Quality Assurance Assessment, AQAA, when we asked for it. This was clear and comprehensive. It identified areas that have improved in the last year and others where further developments are either planned or would benefit service users. The AQAA told us that the service users are very well supported to express their views. Residents have a monthly meeting which is facilitated by an external advocate. They have a rolling two yearly Quality Assurance programme and as part of this carried out a residents questionnaire in February of this year. Changes made as a result of listening to what service users are saying include; room decoration, changes to menu to include individual favourites, trip destinations such as military events, seaside picnics, Bodiam castle, the zoo, Leeds castle, fishing trips and cinema trips. Birling House also run a Relatives Support Group which gives families the opportunity to discuss their relative in the home in a confidential forum amongst others who have similar experiences. This Group often gives added insights into the characters and past interests of those being cared for which also helps the home to provide specific activities designed to appeal to the resident. In the AQAA the home told us what they consider they do well, where they have improved since the last inspection and their plans for future improvements to the service. Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 What they do well, Provide high quality residential care for a specialised client group,Huntingtons Disease. They have a motivated and experienced staff team and have good retention of staff. The house is comfortable and attractive and has a good feel to it. Experienced and committed management team with good support from the board of trustees. Provision of specialist equipment,hoists, beds, chairs, aids,and input from Physiotherapy, Speech and Language, Psychiatry, Psychology when required that is quick to react and give advice as residents needs change. Excellent activities team who provide a wide range of individualised activities, leisure pursuits, events to ensure the residents lead as full a life as they can. Good relationships with relatives and friends of residents with open house policy, support group and social events. Staff training. Improvements they have made, Quality Assurance programme has been improved and the head of homes now carries out the registered provider visits and a bi monthly in depth audit of the home. Equality and diversity values have been highlighted in the service values and given more prominence in care plans. Issues on fee levels have been tackled and some discrepancies resolved. Improved initial assessment forms and pre admission checklists. Increased details of history, lifestyle and choice into care plans. Improved training matrix has enabled the home to identify and prioritise areas of need. Wider range of entertainment events. Appointment of a health care coordinator to manage health, care plans, appointments, liaison with specialists etc. Continued programme of redecoration and refurbishment and upgrading of equipment. Most staff are commencing NVQ III. Role of senior has improved and developed,more involved in the Business Plan. They regained the Investors in People Award. Internal non statutory training has increased. Plans for future, They have identified gaps and shortfalls in staff training, mainly the need for updates. These have been prioritised and a programme is in place to achieve this by late 2009. Improve resident independence, some have self propelled wheelchairs that they find increasingly difficult to use. The home now has an electric wheelchair that they can practice on with a view to getting their own and this promotes their independence. Investigate the use of DVD and computers to promote the home. Promote the keyworker role in supporting their residents by increasing their responsibility in the review and reporting process, ie, a weekly log of input and views. Increase the range and cover of activities by the use of casual staff. This will enable activity staff to be available at weekends andings and better cover for holidays etc. Train two more care staff in massage techniques. The health care co-ordinator will continue to develop their role and establish working relationships with local agencies. To give higher profile to minor grievances that sometimes go under the radar to see if this shows up any trends or issues. Continue the redecoration and refurbishment programme so the standard of the environment in maintained. Induction process using a new format to spread the load and identify specific areas of responsibility for each senior care staff. This will make it more efficient and relevant. Now that senior care staff have greater awareness and involvement in the Business Plan, to cascade this down to care and ancillary staff. They plan to expand the care plans to include emotional/mental health and spiritual and cultural needs as a standard for all residents. They hope to put the Statement of Purpose and Resident Handbook on a CD and provide more accessible versions. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan However, we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about quality of the service or the safety of the people using it. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Annual service review CQC General Public 0870 240 7535 (national contact centre) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. The content of which can be found on our website. 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 copy of the findings 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. 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