Inspection on 15/06/10 for The Briars

This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 15th 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.

Other inspections for this house

The Briars 27/06/07

The Briars 20/06/06

The Briars 23/03/06

The Briars 30/08/05

The Briars 31/03/05

The Briars 07/01/05

Similar services:

Chirnside House

Keer Sands Residential Home

Ruskin Lodge

Bushell House

Langrigg House

Parkside

Dystlegh Grange

Thornton Lodge

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 04/09/2010.

Key inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: The Briars 4 Station Road Thornton Cleveleys Lancashire FY5 5HY     The quality rating for this care home is:   two star good service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home 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 full review a ‘key’ inspection. Lead inspector: Tony Brindle-Wills     Date: 1 7 0 6 2 0 1 0 This is a review of quality of outcomes that people experience in this care home. We believe high quality care should • • • • • Be safe Have the right outcomes, including clinical outcomes Be a good experience for the people that use it Help prevent illness, and promote healthy, independent living Be available to those who need it when they need it. The first part of the review gives the overall quality rating for the care home: • • • • 3 2 1 0 stars - excellent stars - good star - adequate star - poor There is also a bar chart that gives a quick way of seeing the quality of care that the home provides under key areas that matter to people. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better. We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area. Outcome area (for example Choice of home) These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. that people have said are important to them: They reflect the things This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection. This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor. Evidence: This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement. Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 23 We review the quality of the service against outcomes from the National Minimum Standards (NMS). Those standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought 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 The mission of the Care Quality Commission is to make care better for people by: • Regulating health and adult social care services to ensure quality and safety standards, drive improvement and stamp out bad practice • Protecting the rights of people who use services, particularly the most vulnerable and those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 • Providing accessible, trustworthy information on the quality of care and services so people can make better decisions about their care and so that commissioners and providers of services can improve services. • Providing independent public accountability on how commissioners and providers of services are improving the quality of care and providing value for money. Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report Care Quality Commission General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) © Care Quality Commission 2010 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any format or medium for non-commercial 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. www.cqc.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 23 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: The Briars 4 Station Road Thornton Cleveleys Lancashire FY5 5HY 01253854722 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Mrs Ellen Hewitson,Mr Martin Paul Hewitson Name of registered manager (if applicable) Type of registration: Number of places registered: care home 15 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 old age, not falling within any other category Additional conditions: The registered person may provide the following category/ies 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: Old age, not falling within any other category - Code OP The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 15 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home The Briars is situated in Thornton Cleveleys near Blackpool. It is a detached property, with shops and amenities nearby, and there is easy parking in the roads alongside the home. The home provides personal care for up to 15 older people, and is equipped to suit the needs of the people who live there. For example, a passenger lift gives people access Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 23 Over 65 15 0 2 4 0 6 2 0 0 9 Brief description of the care home to the first floor, and ramps are provided for wheelchair access. Bedrooms are all single occupancy, and are on both the ground and first floors. Two of the bedrooms are ensuite. Toilets and bathrooms are conveniently located. There is sufficient communal space, made up of a lounge, a dining room, and a small conservatory, which is also presently used as a smoking room. A small tidy garden is available for the use of residents. The home has achieved the Investors in People Award. As at June 2009, the fees ranged from £386.50 to £435 a week. Further information can be obtained from the manager. Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 23 Summary This is an overview of what we found during the inspection. The quality rating for this care home is: Our judgement for each outcome: two star good service Choice of home Health and personal care Daily life and social activities Complaints and protection Environment Staffing Management and administration peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: Prior to our visit, we reviewed all the information we held about this service, this included the last inspection report, any surveys we had received from people with an interest in the service, the services Annual Quality Assurance assessment (AQAA) and any other correspondence such as notifications and complaints (if any). Whilst at the home we had the opportunity to speak to the people living there, speak to the staff nd manager, review carious documents held at the service, and discuss the progress of the service including progress since the last time it was inspected. None of the areas that we looked at raised any major concerns for us and during the course of our visit. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 23 What the care home does well: What has improved since the last inspection? 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 on page 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.cqc.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@cqc.org.uk or by telephoning our order line 0870 240 7535. Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 23 Details of our findings Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 6) Health and personal care (standards 7 - 11) Daily life and social activities (standards 12 - 15) Complaints and protection (standards 16 - 18) Environment (standards 19 - 26) Staffing (standards 27 - 30) Management and administration (standards 31 - 38) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 23 Choice of home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them and the support they need. People who stay at the home only for intermediate care, have a clear assessment that includes a plan on what they hope for and want to achieve when they return home. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, or people close to them, have been able to visit the home and have got full, clear, accurate and up to date information about the home. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between them and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Formal information about each new persons needs is fully assessed and gathered before they move into the home to ensure the home is the right place for them to live in and be supported. Evidence: At the last key inspection a requirement was made that a formal pre-admission assessment must be carried out with prospective residents before they move into the home. This was to ensure the staff at the home are able to care for them appropriately.This requirement has been acted upon. The registered manager explained that when someone is considering living permanently at the home they are given information to help them make a decision, including a Service Users Guide. People are also invited to visit as often as they like and stay for an evening meal and have an overnight stay if they wish. This gives the person the opportunity to make an informed decision and helps the Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 23 Evidence: home decide if they are able to meet the persons needs. There is also a settling in period, to make sure that everyone is happy that the persons needs can be met. This procedure, along with other professional assessments, helps the staff to start developing a suitable plan of care and support. Information held within peoples files confirmed that appropriate assessments take place, and that as much information as possible to gathered about the person before they move in so that their support needs can be considered and planned for. The service does not provide intermediate care. Care Homes for Older People Page 10 of 23 Health and personal care These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People’s health, personal and social care needs are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. If they take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it, in a safe way. People’s right to privacy is respected and the support they get from staff is given in a way that maintains their dignity. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Peoples social, health and personal care needs are set out in a plan of care, and any risks assoicated with this are assessed and plans put in place to keep people safe. Recommendations about how the care plans can be re-ordered have been made to ensure they are easier to read. Evidence: At the last key inspection a requirement was made that risk assessments must show how any identified risks to people can be minimised, so that the health and safety of people can be protected as much aspossible. This requirement has been acted upon. Also a requirement was made that there must be evidence of peoples participation in the decisions made on the care to be provided. Again this has been acted upon. We looked at three individual care and support plans, and information contained within them showed that people are involved as much as possible in developing and reviewing their plans. The plans were found to reflect the individuals preferences and needs of people. The staff and management team contribute to the care plans in order to make sure a full picture of the individual is obtained. The plans are up to date and Care Homes for Older People Page 11 of 23 Evidence: reflected peoples individuality. They contain sufficient detail to guide staff and help them understand each person however, the order in which the order is presented was sometimes confusing to the reader. This was explained to the registered manager and his deputy, and they agreed that they would look in ways in which the files could be re-ordered. Furthermore, a suggestion was made that the care plan files could be improved by using a sysytem based on Activities of Daily Living. Where any activity involves a potential risk, an assessment is made and plans are agreed to minimize the risk, while still supporting peoples right to independence and choice. These assessments are reviewed regularly, along with the rest of the plan, and the plans are signed by the person concerned to confirm that they agree with them. All the evidence we saw clearly indicated that the homes staff support people to maintain their independence and improve the quality of their lives. This includes supporting people to return to live in the community, if they wish. Our observation, and conversations with the staff, confirmed that the staff know and understand the needs of each person who lives at The Briars. The staff do all they can to promote peoples right to autonomy and everyone is treated as an individual. From talking to the people who live at the home and the staff, and reading the notes, it was clear that everyones personal choices are respected and supported. People are supported to meet their own cultural and spiritual needs. We checked the systems relating to how medication is looked after on behalf of people. We found that on the whole the systems were satisfactory; however, some errors were found where the staff had not carried forward medication left over from the previous month. The acting manager was made aware of this and quickly put measures in place to rectify the problems. All the written information is securely stored and confidential information about people is only shared with those who need to know. Care Homes for Older People Page 12 of 23 Daily life and social activities These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives. They are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. People have nutritious and attractive meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People get to take part in different activities and engage in social events. Evidence: Discussion with some people living in the home found they are happy and comfortable. People were observed throughout the morning enjoying a group activity. Discussion with the staff found that there are activities arranged on a regular basis that include group and individual activities. The record of activities and daily records confirmed this. People are supported and encouraged to be part of the local community and records show some people enjoy visits to local shops and cafes. The menus show people are offered a balanced and varied diet and people were observed having a choice and selecting their own menu. People were observed enjoying their meal that was well presented and well cooked. One person said the food is very good. Another said they have plenty to eat, another that they can choose their meals. The cook says that all of the food is sourced locally and all meals are freshly cooked daily. They also said there are freshly baked cakes and buns provided daily. Some staff was observed assisting people with their meals in a sensitive, relaxed and unhurried manner. Care Homes for Older People Page 13 of 23 Evidence: People were observed throughout the visit being treated with dignity and having their wishes respected, however, the daily records do not contain descriptive words to reflect and show peoples choices preferences likes and dislikes. Care Homes for Older People Page 14 of 23 Complaints and protection These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them know how to complain. Any concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse and neglect and takes action to follow up any allegations. People’s legal rights are protected, including being able to vote in elections. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The systems operated by the service ensure that peoples needs in relation to complaints and protection are promoted and protected as much as possible. Evidence: The information held at the home and by the Commission shows that there is a Safeguarding Policy and Procedure for staff to follow. Staff training records show that all staff has had Safeguarding training. The service history shows the CQC have not received any complaint about the home. Some people living in the home said they know how to make a complaint but have never had to do this. There is a copy of the complaints policy and procedure displayed in the home. Discussion with the care staff found they have complaint training as part of their induction. Care Homes for Older People Page 15 of 23 Environment These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, pleasant and hygienic. People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People live in a clean and safe environment. Evidence: People were observed throughout the visit relaxing in homely and comfortable surroundings. One person said they like living in the home its like home from home. Another said they have everything they need. To keep people safe the maintenance records show the fire equipment including fire alarms and emergency lighting are serviced and checked regularly. It was noted that at the last fire officers visit, the owner of the fire was told not to prop out designated fire doors. In order to ensure that people can move around the home freely and safely, electronic door guards have been ordered and will be installed as soon as they arrive. The owner has been asked to inform CQC when this is completed. Care Homes for Older People Page 16 of 23 Staffing These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable to care for them. Their needs are met and they are cared for by staff who get the relevant training and support from their managers. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People living at the home are supported a trained staff team. Evidence: To maintain the standard of care for people living in the home the manager explained that all the care staff either have or are working towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level 2 or above in care. The staff training records confirmed this. This practice is to be commended. The manager also confirmed that the housekeeping staff also undertake NVQ qualifications and other appropriate related courses. To make sure people are cared for properly and to keep them safe the staff training records show they have First Aid, Moving and Handling, Food Hygiene, Infection Control and Health and Safety training. People are protected by the way staff are recruited and selected as a sample of three staff records show application forms, references, police and POVA (Protection of Vulnerable Adults List) checks are taken up before they are employed. People living in the home say they like the people caring for them and positive relationships were observed being fostered between people and those caring for them. One person said that the staff are wonderful and very caring. Another said they Care Homes for Older People Page 17 of 23 Evidence: are angels, and another that they are patient and caring. The records show that at the present time, the numbers of staff supporting people is sufficient to meet the needs of the people at the home. The records held at the home show that appropriate staff supervision takes place, and this was conformed by the staff team. Care Homes for Older People Page 18 of 23 Management and administration These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have confidence in the care home because it is led and managed appropriately. People control their own money and choose how they spend it. If they or someone close to them cannot manage their money, it is managed by the care home in their best interests. The environment is safe for people and staff because appropriate health and safety practices are carried out. People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. The people staying at the home are safeguarded because it follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and ensures their staff understand the way things should be done. They get the right care because the staff are supervised and supported by their managers. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The service is well managed, and peoples health and welfare is protected and promoted. Evidence: At the last inspection, a requirement was made that record keeping must improve, with particular reference to staff recruitment files. Record keeping generally has improved and so has that relating to staff recruitment. People live in a home that is managed by a person that is a experienced manager, and who is supported by a deputy. Information in the maintenance records and discussions with the staff found that the health, safety and wellbeing of people and those caring for them is promoted and protected. They show regular maintenance checks including fire safety equipment and alarm testing and fire drills. Care Homes for Older People Page 19 of 23 Evidence: The staff explained that they intend to survey people living in the home, their relatives and other people with an interest in the home, to seek their views on the quality of care and services provided. Once this is complete a a report reflecting what they said will be produced by the end of the year. Care Homes for Older People Page 20 of 23 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, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 21 of 23 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, Care Homes 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 7 A review of the ways in which the care files are ordered, and using a system based on Activities of Daily Living would further enhance the information provided to the staff team about peoples care and support needs. The registered person should ensure that a robust system for carrying forward medication on a monthly basis is maintained so as to protect the rights and welfare of people living at the home. The registered person should install appropriate door gaurds to the desiognated fire doors, and inform the Commission of this once completed. 2 9 3 19 Care Homes for Older People Page 22 of 23 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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