Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Acorn House Residential Home 310-312 Norton Road Stockton-on-Tees TS20 2PU one star adequate 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: Jacqueline Herring Date: 1 2 0 5 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Acorn House Residential Home 310-312 Norton Road Stockton-on-Tees TS20 2PU 01642559378 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) : Mrs Carol Lynn Trainor care home 14 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 6 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 8 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 14 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: Old Age, not falling within any other category, Code OP - maximum number of places 6 Dementia Code DE, maximum number of places 8 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Acorn House is a care home registered to provide care for 14 older people. There is one unit for 8 people who have dementia and another unit for 6 older people. The home is a two storey building converted from two Victorian terraced houses. It stands on an elevated site overlooking Norton Road. Access to the front is via a path with steps, a handrail is fitted. At the back of the building there is ramped access to the
Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home home. The garden and elevation of the building allow for privacy. Acorn House is located near to local shops, post office, public houses, social clubs and churches. It is situated on a bus route providing access to Stockton town centre. The weekly fees vary between £356 and £374, but the actual amount payable depends on peoples individual circumstances. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found:
A joint visit by the Care Quality Commission and Stockton Social Services, Contracting Department was undertaken as a result of serious concerns being received. These concerns specified that there were too many people living in the dementia care unit, resulting in one person having to sleep on a settee. We met initially with the a care supervisor who confirmed that there were nine people on the dementia care unit, although they are only registered for eight people. The manager returned to the home and information was given that although one of these people spends time on the dementia unit during the day, they sleep in the residential unit. In respect of information about someone sleeping on the settee, we were informed that one of the people living at the home is restless at night and will often come downstairs and will fall asleep in the chair. Although we found no specific evidence to support the concerns that there were insufficient beds for all the people in the home, we did however identify other concerns. We found that not all people admitted to the home have their needs assessed prior to admission and that there is insufficient information to show that it has clearly been determined that their needs can be met. One care file was looked at for a person recently admitted to the home. This person has also had previous admissions for respite care. It is of concern that there was no pre admission assessment in place. It was unclear what assessments had taken place and how it had been identified that this persons needs could be met by the care home. There was also no evidence of previous assessments for the respite admissions to the home. We also found as a result of care needs not being adequately assessed, that this resulted in one person spending their day in the dementia care unit and sleeping in the residential unit. This then took the dementia care unit to nine people being cared for during the day rather than the eight that they are registered for, and although the home was not over numbers, this is not acceptable and does not demonstrate that the home is acting in the persons best interests. We also found that not all people have their needs assessed following admission or that risks have been assessed. We also found that not all people living at the home have a plan of care which outlines how they are to be supported or how their care needs are to be met. It was also a concern that in one of the files looked at there was no standard personal information such as; name, date of birth, next of kin and GP. As a result of the above concerns being identified, we made a safeguarding referral to the local safeguarding unit at Stockton Borough Council. Concerns were also identified in regard to terms and conditions of residency and contracts. Again, in one of the files looked at this person had no contract in place and they were privately funding their care. In another care file looked at, there was a contract
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 in place, however the persons room number and weekly fee was not specified. Two of the peoples whose care files were looked at had been sharing a double room. There was no information within the care files to show that they had both been consulted about sharing a room and that they had consented to it. 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 2 17 Records must be kept for each person in the home, which includes personal information as specified in Schedule 3 (3). Thsi will ensure that the home and staff have the information needed to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of people. 01/06/2009 2 2 17 There must be a record of 30/06/2009 the care homes charges and the amounts to be paid by or in respect of each person living at the home. This will ensure that people have information about their individual fees. 3 3 14 People must have their needs assessed prior to being admitted to the home by a suitably qualified and trained person. This assessment must determine the specific category of care and people 01/06/2009 Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 9 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 must only be admitted if there is a suitable vacancy. This will ensure that people needs can be met by the home. 4 7 15 There must be a written plan 30/06/2009 of care for all people living at the home. This will ensure that staff have up to date information about peoples needs and how their needs are to be met. 5 8 13 Risk assessments must be 30/06/2009 developed for individuals specific risks. This will ensure that all risks are considered and care plans developed where needed to manage these risks. It will also ensure that information is in place for the safety and wellbeing 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 Each person should receive a contract and this should also specify the bedroom number. 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. 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 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!
