Key inspection report
Care homes for adults (18-65 years)
Name: Address: 8 Thorndale Road (Homefield College) 8 Thorndale Road Thurmaston Leicester LE4 8NQ The quality rating for this care home is: one star adequate 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: Chris Wroe Date: 0 8 0 7 2 0 0 9 This report is a review of the quality of outcomes that people experience in this care home. We believe high quality care should: ï· Be safe ï· Have the right outcomes, including clinical outcomes ï· Be a good experience for the people that use it ï· Help prevent illness, and promote healthy, independent living ï· 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: ï· 3 stars – excellent ï· 2 stars – good ï· 1 star – adequate ï· 0 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. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 30 Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) 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: ï· Regulating health and adult social care services to ensure quality and safety standards, drive improvement and stamp out bad practice ï· Protecting the rights of people who use services, particularly the most vulnerable and those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 ï· 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. ï· 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) 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. www.cqc.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 30 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: 8 Thorndale Road (Homefield College) 8 Thorndale Road Thurmaston Leicester LE4 8NQ 01162925340 01509815696 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : www.homefieldcollege.ac.uk Homefield College Limited care home 4 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 4 0 learning disability Additional conditions: No one under the age of 16 years may be accommodated in the home. Date of last inspection Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 30 A bit about the care home 8 Thorndale Road is a 5 bedroomed semi-detached house situated in the village of Thurmaston. The home can accommodate four young people in single rooms, one of which is en suite, and there is a staff sleeping-in room. Downstairs there is a lounge, kitchen, and a lounge/dining room with patio doors leading onto an enclosed garden. The home is one of seven, which are linked with Homefield College. Young people at the college have been placed by the Learning Skills Council. These placements are generally term time only and limited to 2 or 3 years. However, some young people receive continued or additional funding from Social Services Departments and their placements can be for up to fifty-two weeks a year and may progress to become long term. The college (and linked houses) provide placements for adults with learning disabilities and those who have autistic spectrum disorder. The college does not provide for students who require nursing care. Fees range from £684 to £1411 per week during term time. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 30 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 30 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: one star adequate service Choice of home Individual needs and choices Lifestyle Personal and healthcare support Concerns, complaints and protection Environment Staffing Conduct and management of the home Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 30 How we did our inspection: This is what the inspector did when they were at the care home We visited the home on 1st July 2009. Before this, we had been to the main college office to look at staff records on 10th June 2009. Our visit to the home and to look at records lasted a total of 5 hours. The main way we do our inspections is using a method we call case tracking. This means looking at the care given to people in different ways. The ways this was done are: - talking to the people who live in the home - talking to staff and the manager - watching how people are given support - looking at written records. We talked to three people who live in the home during our visit and spent some time with people and with staff. We watched to find out how comfortable people were in their home. We spoke to one member of staff, who told us about working in the home and gave us their views. We checked all the standards that the Care Quality Commission has decided are key standards during this inspection. The information in this report just about what we checked in this inspection. We have kept details about individual people out of the report, to make sure these things are kept confidential.
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 30 What the care home does well The manager and staff find out about the needs of people who come to live in the home and check whether the home is able to give them the support they need. There is some good written information which tells staff about peoples needs and what kind of support and help they want. people are able to keep their own records, and are supported to have independence and control. Staff give good support to people. There is a good easy-going relationship between staff and people who live in the home. People have the confidence to ask staff for what they want. People who live in the home enjoy a good lifestyle - they are able to do different activities that they enjoy, both in the home and in the community. Friends and relatives are welcome in the home. People are enabled to be independent, and take an active part in running the home, doing things like shopping and cooking. Staff make sure that they support people to follow up any health concerns that they have. Everyone has a local GP and has health checks that they need to help them stay healthy. The home is clean and comfortable for
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 9 of 30 people who live there. Everyone can have their own things in their bedrooms. Staff get training in different subjects to help them to do their job well, including in adult protection so they can help to keep people safe from harm. There are policies which tell the staff how to do their job well. Checks are done to make sure equipment is safe. Staff support people to look after their money and to manage how they spend it. What has got better from the last inspection Some actions were recommended after the last inspection and these have been carried out: There is enough furniture in the home so that staff can sit with people who live in the home and spend time with them. People who live in the home can make choices about what they would like to do they do not always have to do activities together in the evenings and a member of staff will stay at home with someone if they prefer. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 10 of 30 What the care home could do better Care plans do not show all details about what peoples current care needs are based on what has happened to them or what they have been doing. This needs to be improved so that staff can meet peoples needs properly. We found that there were not risk assessments in place to keep people safe from risks which had been identified. This must be improved to make sure people are protected from harm. Care records are not all kept in one place - this can be confusing for staff, and it might be better if they were all kept in one accessible place. We found that the service has not reported all serious incidents to us, as they are required to do. This must be done to make sure people who live in the home are safeguarded from harm. We also found that the systems that are in place in the home to protect people from harm do not work to protect them in the best way possible. This must be improved
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 11 of 30 so that people are safeguarded. If you want to read the full report of our inspection please ask the person in charge of the care home If you want to speak to the inspector please contact Chris Wroe CPC1 Capital Park Fulbourn Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB21 5XE 01223771300 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 4.
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 12 of 30 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 13 of 30 Details of our findings
Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 5) Individual needs and choices (standards 6-10) Lifestyle (standards 11 - 17) Personal and healthcare support (standards 18 - 21) Concerns, complaints and protection (standards 22 - 23) Environment (standards 24 - 30) Staffing (standards 31 - 36) Conduct and management of the home (standards 37 - 43) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 14 of 30 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, what they hope for and want to achieve, and the support they need. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, and people close to them, can visit the home and get full, clear, accurate and up to date information. 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 the person 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. People who live in this home benefit from a very good assessment of their needs and a supportive living environment. Evidence: The manager and staff carry out a full assessment to see whether the college and the home is right for people. They tell people all about the college and the kinds of things they will learn. They also find out which house will be the right place for people to live whether it is somewhere quieter or somewhere lively. This kind of matching is good, and supportive to people. People we spoke to said they got information about the home before they moved in, and said they came to look around. We saw that people who live in the home are comfortable and friendly with each other and with staff. Staff have ongoing training to help them to meet peoples needs. The college makes sure that people keep up to date with their training. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 15 of 30 Individual needs and choices
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 needs and goals are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. People are able to make decisions about their life, including their finances, with support if they need it. This is because the staff promote their rights and choices. People are supported to take risks to enable them to stay independent. This is because the staff have appropriate information on which to base decisions. People are asked about, and are involved in, all aspects of life in the home. This is because the manager and staff offer them opportunities to participate in the day to day running of the home and enable them to influence key decisions. People are confident that the home handles information about them appropriately. This is because the home has clear policies and procedures that staff follow. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People who live in this home may be put at risk by a lack of full attention to their care needs. Evidence: We looked at the written care plans, which give information about peoples care needs and how they are supported. We found it a little confusing, as some of these were written records kept in files and some were kept on the computer. It would be good if the home made them easily accessible to the people they are written about. People who live in the home also keep some of their own records. We found from looking at records and from talking with staff that there was an issue of concern for residents wellbeing. This had been looked into by the manager and provider - but not fully enough. The social services department had not been involved as they should have been. Peoples care plans did not have up to date information about this issue, which meant their needs could not be fully met. We have talked to the provider and to the manager about this.
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 16 of 30 Evidence: There were also some written risk assessments, which talked about how people could be supported to do the things they wanted to but still be kept safe. However, we did see that there were not risk assessments for everyone relating to the issue of risk we found in the home and this needs to be changed to protect people. The service needs to make sure that the risk assessments really do deal with what is important to keep each person safe from harm. The home uses a system of sanctions and rewards. People can get points for good behaviours and have them taken away for negative behaviours. If people lose a lot of points they get a sanction, like being unable to go to a club they enjoy. People who live in the home told us they liked the rewards system, where one person is named student of the week and gets a money prize. Staff pay attention to peoples needs and to supporting them to do the things they want to do. On the day we visited the home, people were getting ready to go out to a disco, and were being encouraged and supported by staff to get ready in time. We found that reviews are held of peoples care, to make sure that their needs are being met. Staff pay good attention to making sure that people get the right kind of support. People who live in the home are supported to look after their money, and to buy what they need. An assessment is done for each person to see how far they are able to look after their money by themselves and how much support they need. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 17 of 30 Lifestyle
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 can take part in activities that are appropriate to their age and culture and 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 and the home supports them to have appropriate personal, family and sexual relationships. People are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. Their dignity and rights are respected in their daily life. People have healthy, well-presented meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. People have opportunities to develop their social, emotional, communication and independent living skills. This is because the staff support their personal development. People choose and participate in suitable leisure activities. 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. Service Users enjoy a positive lifestyle, with support and encouragement from staff. Evidence: We found that everyone in the home does different things each day. The students are all learning at the college. People have certificates of achievement for things they have learnt. Other activities and events are organised, such as youth and social clubs, discos, shopping. Everyone has their own plan of activities so they can remember what they are doing each day. People told us about the different things they like to do. The students told us that at the moment they are training for the Olympics, which would be taking place in Leicester soon after our inspection. When we visited the home, everyone was busy getting ready to go out to a disco that they had just found out was on that night. The manager and staff told us that people do not all have to do the same thing, and that if someone chooses not to go to an event, a member of staff will be at home with them.
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 18 of 30 Evidence: The home has a garden, which people are able to sit out in and enjoy. Families, relatives and friends are welcomed in the home, and staff support people to keep in touch with families. We saw during our visit that people who live in the home are comfortable in their environment and able to spend time where they choose. Members of staff showed good understanding of peoples needs and likes and dislikes. Meals are prepared by people who live in the home, with support from care staff. Everyone has a say about what they would like to eat. They help to plan the menus and to shop for food. Everyone understood about the kinds of food that are healthy and how to eat a balanced diet. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 19 of 30 Personal and healthcare support
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 receive personal support from staff in the way they prefer and want. Their physical and emotional health needs are met because the home has procedures in place that staff follow. If people 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. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them to 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. People who live in this home benefit from good attention to their personal and healthcare needs. Evidence: People have access to a local GP, and they are supported to have ongoing health checks. We found the home keeps good records about peoples health needs and contact they have with professionals who help them. Everyone has person-centred health information. Staff showed good understanding of peoples needs, including their emotional needs. People who live in the home are mainly independent in carrying out personal care. we saw that staff support them and give them encouragement in this area. No one in the home takes any medication at this time. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 20 of 30 Concerns, 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. Their concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse, neglect and self-harm and takes action to follow up any allegations. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Although staff are well trained and know how to give support, people who live in the home may be put at risk by current systems for safeguarding. Evidence: There is a complaints procedure in the home, if people have any concerns. People who live in the home told us that they feel able to talk to staff if they are not happy. One person told us I would go to the manager if I had any problems People told us they feel the carers listen to them and act on what they say. We found that there were some incidents relating to keeping people safe in the home, which had not been reported to us or to social services, as the home is required to do. Staff have had training and are aware about what they need to report and how to keep people safe. But the systems for management reporting on and investigating incidents are not working effectively. This means that not all steps have been taken to make sure that people in the home are kept safe. We made sure that Social services were informed about the incidents. The manager and provider must make sure systems for keeping people safe are good and work properly. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 21 of 30 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, comfortable, 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. People have enough privacy when using toilets and bathrooms. 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. Service users live in an environment that is homely, comfortable and clean. Evidence: We looked around parts of the home during our visit, and we found that it was clean, fresh and comfortable. There is a homely feeling and the home has a reasonable-sized garden for people to sit out in and enjoy. People who live in the home are able to personalise their bedrooms with their own things. The manager told us that the kitchen is due to be replaced over summer, and that parts of the home will be redecorated. This will be done while the students are away for the college vacation. Proper checks of equipment are carried out in the home, to make sure it is safe for people to use. There is good access from the house to the local community. The house is close to Thurmaston town centre. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 22 of 30 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, qualified 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. People’s needs are met and they are supported because staff get the right training, supervision and support they need from their managers. People are supported by an effective staff team who understand and do what is expected of them. 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 who live in this home benefit from having supportive, well trained staff. Evidence: Staff in the home are responsible for caring for people who live in the home, and for supporting them to do cleaning and cooking and keep their house. More staff work at times when it is busier in the home. At night a member of staff sleeps at the home to be available if anyone needs them. The provider (owner) makes sure that checks are carried out for new staff who come to work in the home, such as Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks, and collecting references. Staff have had training in different aspects to help them work well, and to help them meet the needs of people who live in the home. One member of staff told us that they feel that the service gives good training. They also told us that they feel that the provider listens to staff. Every year, staff have appraisals, to look at how their work is going. It would be good if staff could have more one to one support, so they can get regular feedback about how their work is going and what they are doing well. This is especially important given that they are working alone a lot, and given the issues that have arisen concerning the welfare of people in the home (described in Sections 2 and 5).
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 23 of 30 Evidence: Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 24 of 30 Conduct and management of the 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 have confidence in the care home because it is run and managed appropriately. People’s opinions are central to how the home develops and reviews their practice, as the home has appropriate ways of making sure they continue to get things right. The environment is safe for people and staff because 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. They are safeguarded because the home follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and makes sure staff understand the way things should be done. 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 who live in this home mainly benefit from good management systems. Evidence: There is an acting manager who is applying for registration. One member of staff we spoke to told us that they think she is a good manager and that they felt she is approachable. The manager and provider carry out checks to make sure they are providing a service which is of good quality and safe. There are staff meetings and student meetings. People who live in the home have a chance to be involved in different committees. The manager told us that they would still like to include people who use the service more, to find out their views and ideas. Staff carry out safety checks of different equipment, to make sure it is fit for use. Members of staff have had training to make sure that they know how to work safely. Staff are given equipment they need, like safety gloves, to help them to prevent the spread of infections.
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 25 of 30 Evidence: Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 26 of 30 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes ï£ No ï 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 27 of 30 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 Description 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 Description Timescale for action 1 6 15 The provider must ensure that the service users care plans are kept up to date to accurately reflect the ongoing health and welfare needs of people who live in the home. 31/08/2009 This is to ensure that staff can properly meet the needs of people who live in the home. 2 9 13 The provider must ensure 31/08/2009 that identified risks to the health and safety of people who live in the home are recorded in risk assessments, and steps to be taken to remove or protect from risk are shown. This is to ensure that peoples welfare is safeguarded. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 28 of 30 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 Description Timescale for action 3 23 37 The provider must ensure 31/08/2009 that any serious incidents which could affect the welfare of people who live in the home are reported to the Care Quality Commission without delay. This is to ensure that people who live in the home are safeguarded from harm. 4 23 13 The provider must ensure 31/08/2009 that the safeguarding systems in place in the home properly protect people from the risk of harm or abuse. This is to ensure that people who live in the home are safeguarded from harm. 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 6 It is recommended that care plans and risk assessments are kept in one place which can be easily identified by staff, so that staff can have ready access to information they need about people who live in the home. It is recommended that staff are given more one to one support/supervision sessions, so that they can have feedback about their work, and ensure that systems are working well. 2 36 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 29 of 30 Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 or 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 30 of 30 - 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!