Random inspection report
Care homes for adults (18-65 years)
Name: Address: Polesworth Group Friary Road 8 Friary Road Atherstone Warwickshire CV9 3AG three star excellent 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: Patricia Flanaghan Date: 1 0 0 5 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Polesworth Group Friary Road 8 Friary Road Atherstone Warwickshire CV9 3AG 01827718066 01827894828 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Polesworth Group Homes Limited Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : care home 6 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 learning disability Conditions of registration: 6 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 6 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 categories: Learning disability (LD) 6 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home 8 Friary Road is a registered care home providing 24-hour personal support to six adults with learning disability. Friary Road was established in 1992 and is part of Polesworth Group Homes Limited, a voluntary organisation and registered charity. 8 Friary Road is a large detached house situated on the outskirts of the small market
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home town of Atherstone in Warwickshire and close to all local services and facilities. There are six single bedrooms; each service user has their own room, which contains a wash hand basin. Shared space comprises of a spacious kitchen, a large lounge with dining area, and utility room. There are three bedrooms on the ground floor, a shower room and bathroom with shower, bath, toilet and wash hand basin. There are three further bedrooms on the first floor of the house, and the staff sleepover/office room. There is a further bathroom with toilet, basin and shower cubicle on the first floor. The premises are well maintained. Decor, furniture and fittings are of a good quality. Outside there is a driveway and car parking to the front of the property and to the rear, a spacious private garden, which is well maintained and includes a vegetable patch, patio area, shed, greenhouse and summer house. Information regarding accommodation fees is available from the service directly. Additional costs that have to be met by people include toiletries, outings, holiday spending money and hairdressing. Leigh-Anne Smith is the registered manager for this service. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 9 What we found:
We, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) undertook this random inspection visit to monitor standards of care at the home, which was rated as excellent at the last key inspection on 22 May 2007. This random inspection was unannounced, which meant the home was not given notice of our visit. We wanted to gain an assessment of peoples experience within the home. This was to make sure that the standards highlighted within our previous report continue to be maintained. Before the visit we looked at information we received since our last inspection of the home. This includes how the service dealt with any complaints, the views of people who use the service and the managers views of how well they care for people. The service sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) within the required timescales. The information in the AQAA was clear and provided us with all of the information we asked for. During the visit we spoke with people who live at the home, the staff on duty and the registered manager. We looked at information about people who use the service and medication records. We checked that staff had the knowledge, skills and training to meet the needs of the people they care for and we looked around the building to make sure it was clean, safe and comfortable. Friary Road is a very pleasant place in which to live. The home was clean and tidy throughout. The decor in communal areas is good and lighting is domestic in style. People are encouraged to personalise their own bedroom with items of furniture and other belongings. We saw that people receive a good standard of care from a caring and committed staff team, who have a good understanding of their needs. People are encouraged to make their own choices and this gives them control over their lives. Each person living at the home has a person centred plan. We looked at the care records of one person and found that all of the documents that are required to deliver good standards of care were in place. Care plans outlined the persons care and support needs and preferences. During our visit we chatted with some of the people living at the home who told us that they were well looked after. A person commented, All the staff are good. I get on with all of them and with the other people living here. Records showed that people had seen GPs, specialist nurses, chiropodists and opticians on a regular basis. For example, we noted during our visit that the senior carer on duty made an appointment with the GP to see a person who said they had a sore ankle. The home has in place safe systems for the storage and administration of medication. Medication is provided through a local pharmacist in a monitored dosage (blister pack) system. We looked at a sample of the medication held at the home. We noted that staff were knowledgeable about medication. There were areas of good practice with medication well organised and we saw that medicines were administered to people in a timely manner, with appropriate records. There were photographs with the MAR
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 9 (Medication Administration Records) charts, which minimises any risk of medication being given to the wrong person. We saw that people looked well presented and were dressed appropriately according to their preference. There was very good interaction between staff and the people living at the home, with conversation at a level and pace appropriate for each person. People using the service continue to be encouraged to play an active role and take responsibility for household tasks. For example, when we arrived a person was preparing vegetables for a forthoming meal. People told us they can make choices and decisions about what food is served. People told us in their surveys that they enjoy the meals served in the home. Some comments about their daily lives in the home included: My room is kept clean and the cooking is good. Staff look after us well and always there when we need them. Meals are always nice. Keyworkers help us do things and show us what to do. Its nice and clean. I like helping keep the home clean. The staff are wonderful. There are a range of activities on offer for people, so that they are able to pursue their leisure and social interests. For example, people attend day centres and all six people are looking forward to their annual holiday, chosen by them. An official complaints policy and procedure is in place to ensure the concerns of people living in the home are taken seriously and feedback from those we spoke to indicated they were very clear about what to do if they had any complaints. All people who returned a survey told us there was someone they could speak to if they were unhappy and that they knew how to make a complaint if they needed to. We have not received any concerns about the home and information in the AQAA told us the home had not received any complaints in the previous twelve months. Staff have received training on safeguarding adults and the staff we spoke with said that abusive practice would not be tolerated in the home. Other recent training udertaken by staff includes oral hygiene. We saw that staffing levels were appropriate for meeting the needs of people currently living in the home. There was a good atmosphere throughout the home with friendly and warm relationships existing between staff and people who use the service. Staff were observed to be cheerful and to enjoy doing their jobs and demonstrated a positive regard for the people in their care. Staff we spoke with were committed and motivated to doing their jobs and discussion with them indicated they had a good understanding of the needs of people and values of the home. Staff also told us that they had received good, regular training. They said that the home was well managed, they felt listened to and able to contribute to the development of the service. A staff member commented, I love working here, I have worked for Polesworth Homes for a long time and wouldnt want to work anywhere else. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 9 The AQAA informed us that 100 of staff have achieved a minimum of level two in the National Vocational Qualification in care. This is commendable and means that staff should have the necessary skills and knowledge to provide a good standard of support to the people who live there. The service tells us that they follow their recruitment procedures in seeking references and completing safety checks to make sure that suitable staff are employed. Staff also confirmed this process during discussion. We were told in the AQAA how the service ensures that equality and diversity is promoted within the service. For example, - We have in place company policies and procedures that promote equality and diversity. - The policy on Equal Opportunities states that staff are selected purely according to their relevant merits and abilities and that the same principles apply when the company works with service users, their families and workers from other agencies. - Training regarding equality and diversty is included in the induction and LDQ traing for all staff. - After a period of twelve months, all staff are given the opportunity to undertake NVQ Level 2 in care, which reinforces their understanding and commitment to ensuring equality and diversity are promoted in every aspect of our work. 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 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 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 Adults (18-65 years) 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 Adults (18-65 years) 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 Adults (18-65 years) 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!
