Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Allendale House Residential Care Home 11 Milehouse Lane Wolstanton Newcastle Staffordshire ST5 9JR 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: Peter Dawson Date: 2 6 0 2 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Allendale House Residential Care Home 11 Milehouse Lane Wolstanton Newcastle Staffordshire ST5 9JR 01782627388 01782740466 allendalehouse@aol.com 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 Marcia Patricia Anderson care home 17 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 17 0 dementia old age, not falling within any other category physical disability Conditions of registration: 5 PD in bedrooms 7,8 & 9 only. 5 0 5 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 17 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 (OP) 17 Dementia (DE) 5 Physical disability (PD) 5 Date of last inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home Allendale House is a privately owned residential care home, located close to the villages of May Bank, Wolstanton and within close proximity to Newcastle-under-Lyme. Access to the village and main town is via a main bus route. The Home is registered to provide care for up to seventeen older people. There were 10 people resident at the time of this inspection. It is also registered to care for five people with dementia care needs and five people with a physical disability. The property is a large detached Victorian house that provides spacious accommodation. There is a pleasant secluded garden area. The Home is owned by Mrs Marcia Anderson who is also the Registered Manager. The weekly fees for people at Allendale House is in the range GBP350 GBP425 further information is available in the homes Statement of Purpose. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found:
A Key inspection of this service was carried out on 6th July 2009 when it was awarded 1 Star Adequate. Anonymous complaints received in December 2009/January 2010 resulted in a Safeguarding investigation under the Protection of Vulnerable procedures. Allegations included: Staff intimidation, call bells disconnected at night time, inadequate heating, poor personal care, inadequate staffing at night time and people employed without appropriate checks. As a result of those complaints we carried out a Random Inspection of the home on 20th January 2010. Many of the allegations were not substantiated, however, we found that heating in the home was not adequate. We made a requirement to improve the heating system and a requirement to ensure medication was available in the home at all times. We also made a requirement to ensure that people could leave the building swiftly and safely. We made recommendations relating to improvements in recording of daily personal care and nutritional care. We also recommended that disciplinary actions against staff must be recorded in staff files. We found that some staff had not had moving and handling training and that this must be provided for all staff. The purpose of this random inspection was to check compliance with the requirements made previously and monitor the recommendations made. We found that progress had been made in relation to the heating in the lounge areas. Some radiator guards, previously blocking heat had been fitted with front mesh panels and additional holes drilled into the wooden side panels to release more heat. On the last visit we found that 2 radiators in the lounge area, connected to the kitchen radiators, had been turned off when the ones in the kitchen had been turned off. We were assured on this visit that catering staff had been instructed not to turn radiators off under any circumstances and alternative cooling arrangements made for the kitchen area. The recorded temperature in the lounge areas on this visit was 22C and some reorganisation of the seating in the lounge areas meant that the connected lounge areas were adequately heated. The requirement in relation to medication availability related to a situation found on the last inspection when keys had not been handed over the day staff who were unable to administer medication at the required time. We were told this was an isolated incident and had not happened again. There was certainly access to the medication system on this visit. The morning medication being given to people as we arrived. We saw on the previous inspection that the front entrance door was protected by a star key lock - visitors leaving had to call staff to unlock the door as they wished to leave. We expressed concerns about this, particularly in the event of fire or other emergency. We made a requirement in the interests of safety of the building. We found on this visit that a Star Key had been placed near the exit door allowing free and easy exit from the building. We looked at care plans and records and found that improvements had been made in the
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 recording of daily food and fluid intake for people. This evidenced the positive input in that area of care. We also saw improvements in the recording of daily personal care, in fact we found that some people previously refusing to have baths were now happy to have them and where this was not possible there was improved recording in relation to daily personal care. At the time of the last inspection we were concerned that a new member of staff administering medication had not had appropriate training. In relation to that person we were able to see on this visit that there was a certificate of training in medication administration issued prior to her employment with Allendale House confirming that she had undertaken the appropriate training. We found that a recommendation to record any staff suspensions or disciplinary actions on staff records had not been carried out. We repeat the previous recommendation we made at the last inspection. At the time of the last inspection we found that 3 members of staff had not had training in Moving & Handling. A new Deputy Manager had commenced duties who was an approved trainer and we felt the matter would be resolved easily. The Manager told us on this visit that the trainers certificate had expired, an update course recently accessed and she would soon provide training for the 3 members of staff. We repeat the recommendation made in the last report to provide this important training for all staff. Complaints records on the last inspection showed that no complaint had been made to the home, although we were aware of one that had been made in relation to inadequate heating and had not been recorded. We found on this visit that a complaint received in the month since the last random inspection had been recorded and dealt with adequately. At the time of this inspection there were 10 people living in the home, including 1 in hospital. We spoke with several people present who said that they were happy with the care provided at Allendale House and had no concerns or complaints. What the care home does well: What they could do better: Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 9 Moving and Handling training must be provided for all staff to protect people using the service. Staff files must record any suspensions or disciplinary actions. 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 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 Older People 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 1 2 29 38 Staff files must record any suspensions or disciplinary actions. Moving and Handling training must be provided for all staff with recommended annual updates. 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. © 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 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!
