Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Alexandra House Havelock Terrace Gateshead Tyne & Wear NE8 1QU two star good 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: Elaine Malloy Date: 1 6 1 0 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Alexandra House Havelock Terrace Gateshead Tyne & Wear NE8 1QU 01914775117 01914774879 alexandragateshead@schealthcare.co.uk www.southerncrosshealthcare.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Southern Cross BC OpCo Ltd Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : care home 40 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 40 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 40 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 40 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 40 Dementia Code DE, maximum number of places 40 Date of last inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 7 Brief description of the care home Alexandra House is a large, purpose built home in Gateshead, close to the town centre. It is built on the site of an old social club, well known in the area. It is surrounded by houses and is close to Coatsworth Road, a main shopping area. There are good transport links to the home. The home is registered to provide personal care to forty adults over the age of sixtyfive years, some whom may have memory loss. The home does not provide nursing care. All bedrooms are en-suite and for single occupancy. There are five lounges and two dining rooms over the two floors of the home. The home is equipped with aids and adaptations to help more physically dependent people in the home. A Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide are available at the home. The guides describe the services and facilities provided by the home and how staff are trained to meet service users care and support needs. Inspection reports and details of fees are also available at the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 7 What we found:
This inspection was carried out to check on staffing levels and how the home manages complaints. An inspector visited the home unannounced on 13th and 16th October 2009 and spent time talking to the management and other staff, and people living at the home to get their views. Complaints records and staff rotas were examined. We found that: Complaints records were incomplete and did not always show the action taken and the response given to the person making the complaint. Management had not made a referral to the local authority safeguarding team about an incident, though this had been investigated internally. Staffing levels at the home have not always been consistent. We have reviewed our practice when making requirements, to improve national consistency. Some requirements from previous inspection reports may have been deleted or carried forward into this report as recommendations, but only when it is considered that people who use the service are not put at significant risk of harm. In future, if a requirement is repeated, it is likely that enforcement action will be taken. 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 4 of 7 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 5 of 7 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 18 13 Any potential safeguarding 23/10/2009 alerts must be referred to the local safeguarding team. To make sure that any allegations of abuse are reported to the relevant authorities. 2 27 18 Appropriate staffing levels must be maintained at all times. To meet the needs of people living at the home. 23/10/2009 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 16 18 Full details of any complaints received about the home should be kept, including action taken and responses. More appropriate activities and a therapeutic environment must be provided for residents with memory loss. (Previous Requirement). Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 7 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 7 of 7 - 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!
