Inspection on 17/12/08 for Allington House

This inspection was carried out on 17th December 2008.

CSCI found this care home to be providing an Good service.

The inspector found no outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report, but made 1 statutory requirements (actions the home must comply with) as a result of this inspection.

Other inspections for this house

Allington House 17/02/10

Allington House 31/01/08

Similar services:

Turret Villa Retirement Home

Moor House

Mendip House

Beaconsfield Court Care Home

Little Sisters Of The Poor

Manor House

Middleton Hall Ltd

Middlesbrough Intermediate Care Centre

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 26/03/2009.

Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Allington House Marsh House Avenue Billingham Cleveland TS23 2HB     The quality rating for this care home is:   two star good service 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 assessment of the service. We call this a ‘key’ inspection. Lead inspector: Susan Lowther     Date: 1 7 1 2 2 0 0 8 This is a report of an inspection where we looked at how well this care home is meeting the needs of people who use it. 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. 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 Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to: • • • • Put the people who use social care first Improve services and stamp out bad practice Be an expert voice on social care Practise what we preach in our own organisation Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 23 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright © (2009) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). 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 CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. www.csci.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 23 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Allington House Marsh House Avenue Billingham Cleveland TS23 2HB 01642565839 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Southern Cross OPCO Ltd Name of registered manager (if applicable) Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : care home 46 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 46 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Additional conditions: 24 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 46 The registered person may povide the following category of service only: Care Home with Nursing - Code N To service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the Home fall within the following categories: Old Age, not falling within any other categories, Code OP- maximum number of places 46 Dementia, Code DE, maximum number of places 24 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Allington House is a purpose built, two storey care home situated on the outskirts of Billingham. It provides nursing care for older people and personal care for older people with dementia in two clearly defined units. The home is well located for ease of access to the local town centre and in very close proximity to a local pub. All of the rooms are single rooms with ensuite facilities and a good amount of communal space. Garden Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 23 Brief description of the care home areas are available and in the process of being developed further for the safe use of all. 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: The quality rating for this service is 2 star. This means the people who use this service experience good quality outcomes. This unannounced inspection of Allington House Care Home took place on the 17th December 2008. Records were examined and a tour of the building took place. Time was spent talking to staff, the people who live in the home and their relatives. The manager supplied some written information to the CSCI before the inspection. The inspection focussed on key standard outcomes for people who live in the homes and to check whether requirements from the previous report had been met. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 23 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 services are not being put at significant risk of harm. In future, if a requirement is repeated, it is likely that enforcement action will be taken. The fees charged at the time of this inspection were between 440 pounds and 618 pounds and 80 pence per week. This doea not include the cost of hairdressing, toiletries, chiropody and newspapers. 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 set out on page 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.csci.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by telephoning our order line –0870 240 7535. Care Homes for Older People Page 8 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 9 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. Assessment procedures are in place to ensure that the home can meet the needs of the people who live there. Evidence: People are only admitted after a full assessment of need is carried out by an appropriately trained person. This is to make sure that the home can meet the care needs of the people who go to live there. The family of one person who had recently gone to live in the home confirmed that they had looked around the home and had been supplied with all of the information they needed to make a decision about whether or not their relative would like to live there. The home does not admit people for intermediate care therefore assessment of Standard 6 is not required. 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 health care needs are well managed by the home. Systems to administer medication are safe and people living at the home say that they are treated well and that the standard of care is good. Evidence: The operations manager said that all of the people who live in the home have care plans so that staff know how to look after people on an individual basis. Five were examined during the inspection. These contained individual plans of care which included quite a lot of detail. However in one the bedrail assessment had not been evaluated monthly. In addition other care plans which had been evaluated monthly could be more detailed to give a more comprehensive picture about how the person has been. People spoken to during the inspection said that they are happy with the care received and the level of information given. One person said, The staff here are lovely and try to do everything I ask. One relative said, The staff do their best to keep me updated. Care Homes for Older People Page 11 of 23 Evidence: Sometimes they are busy when I first arrive, but they do catch up with me eventually. Records examined showed that people receive visits from other healthcare professionals. These include district nurses, doctors, and care managers. Medication is administered by appropriately trained staff. The home has a comprehensive medication policy. Accurate records of all medicines received, administered and those leaving the home are maintained. The recommendations highlighted in the last report have been actioned. Where medication is handwritten on the Medication Administration Record, these are now signed by two members of staff. The fridge is now locked. The temperature of the ground floor medication room is monitored to make sure it stays within a safe temperature. Controlled drugs are now monitored on a regular basis. People spoken to said that staff always treat them with dignity and respect. 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. The activities are varied and provide recreation for most of the people who live in the home. Family and friends can visit at any time and are made to feel welcome. The meals are of a good standard. Menus are varied and people are given a choice. Evidence: Most of the people said that activities are suitable and that they have improved recently. The last inspection report recommended that they be developed further. The activities organiser now works 30 hours per week. She said that she spends time with people on an individual basis to find out what activities they would like to do. One to one activities take place during the morning and group activities in the afternoon. Regular activities include arts and crafts, cake baking, darts, bingo, dominoes and card games. Outside entertainers visit on a regular basis and a church service is held once per month. People are also taken out. Recent excursions have been to Redcar and Hartlepool Marina. Relatives said that they could visit at any time and that they are always made welcome. People said that they have a choice about how they like to spend their day. They can also choose what time to get up and go to bed and when they would like to Care Homes for Older People Page 13 of 23 Evidence: have a shower or bath. The lunch looked nice. Staff who were helping people were doing this in a discreet and dignified manner. Evidence was seen in care plans to confirm that nutritional needs are assessed and other professionals consulted if required. One person said, The meals are good and you get a choice. 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. People can be confident that their concerns and complaints are dealt with appropriately and that safeguards are in place to protect them from abuse. Evidence: Information about complaints, how and who to make them to, is made available to the people who live in the home and their families through information displayed in the entrance to the home and in the Service Users Guide. There have been ten complaints recorded since the last inspection. All of these were investigated by the home. Staff spoken to confirmed that they now know how to assist people to complain if they are unhappy. This was highlighted in the last inspection report. The home had a comprehensive adult protection procedure. This gives staff the support they need to make a referral should this be required. The staff spoken to during the inspection were asked about abuse and what they would do if they saw or heard anything inappropriate. All said that they would tell someone, for example the operations manager, or make a referral themselves if this was more appropriate. Training is provided for all staff in adult protection. 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. The home is clean and well maintained. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard and provides a homely environment for the people who live there. Evidence: During a tour of the building the inspector saw that many of the rooms are decorated to the persons own taste and there was evidence to confirm that people can take in some personal items when they go to live there. This includes pieces of furniture as well as photographs and ornaments. A high standard of decor and furniture is provided throughout the home. The planned work to increase the level of privacy to a number of bedrooms, identified in the last report, has now been completed. A fence has been erected and a locked gate now ensures the privacy of these bedrooms. There was a range of equipment seen around the home to support people with bathing and mobility. The inspector found the building to be clean, tidy and free from offensive odours. 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. The home has a settled and well-led staff team, in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the people who currently live in the home. Training is provided for all staff. Evidence: From the rota supplied at the inspection there was sufficient care staff on duty to meet the assessed care needs of the people who were using the service. People said that staff were usually around and answered the call bells quickly. One person said, The staff come quickly when I need them. The operations manger confirmed that staffing levels remain under review, as highlighted in the last report. The home had staff files in place, which provided evidence that the appointment of a new staff member is in the main made through proper recruitment processes. This includes the vetting of staff through the use of references, POVA first checks and Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks. There is a commitment at the home to having a trained workforce with most of the staff having an NVQ at level 2 or above. An up to date training programme is now in place. As well as mandatory training, recent training has also taken place in adult protection, palliative care and health and safety. Staff said that they are also supported with regard to personal training needs. Staff comments in this area were Care Homes for Older People Page 17 of 23 Evidence: positive. Comments included There is always plenty of training going on and you can ask for additional training if you want to. Another said, I have regular supervision with the operations manager and can discuss my training needs or any other concerns in private. 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 homes operations manager provides clear leadership, support and guidance to those living and working at the home. Evidence: There was an open and friendly culture between the management team and staff working at the home. People living at the home and visitors who were spoken to during the inspection confirmed that the operations manager is approachable and that they would go to her if they had any concerns. Staff also confirmed this to be the case. Regular meetings are held and there are a number of systems in place to consult with people living at the home. Relatives and the people who live in the home can approach the staff at any time. Care Homes for Older People Page 19 of 23 Evidence: The area manager completes a regulation 26 visit monthly. This is an audit which covers all aspects of the environment and the care delivered. The operations manager said that during this audit staff, the people who live in the home and visitors are consulted about their views. Any suggestions made are considered and improvements made where possible. The last inspection report contained a requirement about the need to formalise the management arrangements. Since the inspection a new manager has been appointed and is aware that she needs to apply to the CSCI for registration. Personal finances are kept in the home for people who request this. Signatures are obtained and receipts are kept to ensure peoples financial interests are safeguarded. The company also carry out a regular audit with regard to personal finances. The last inspection report highlighted the need for people to be able to access their personal allowances at all time. The operations manager said that there is a supply of petty cash available which can be accessed by staff at any time for people to use. There was evidence in staff files to show that supervision was taking place and that the staff were being appraised. Staff confirmed that supervision takes place on a regular basis and that they are well supported. The staff work station has been reviewed to ensure records are now held securely, as identified in the last report. The operations manager confirmed that all equipment in the home is regularly checked. The maintenance certificates that were seen at this inspection were found to be in order. Health and Safety checks are carried out regularly to safeguard people living and working at the home. Bath and shower temperatures are now checked and recorded as recommended in the last report. 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 1 31 9 The acting manager must make an application to be registered with the CSCI. To meet the regulations and ensure that people are safe. 20/05/2009 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 7 The bedrail assessments should be evaluated monthly to make sure that they are still suitable and safe for use. Care plans should be in more detail to make sure that they are still appropriate and meet the needs of the individual. 2 7 Care Homes for Older People Page 22 of 23 Helpline: Telephone: 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323 Textphone: 0845 015 2255 or 0191 233 3588 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.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) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). 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 CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Older People Page 23 of 23 - 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!