This inspection was carried out on 17th February 2010.
It is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Good.
The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection
and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Allington House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 1 7 1 2 2 0 0 8 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 We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.
Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?
No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Andrea Goodall Date of this annual service review: 1 7 1 2 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 6 Information about the service
Address of service: Marsh House Avenue Billingham Cleveland TS23 2HB 01642565839 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: Southern Cross OPCO Ltd Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 24 0 0 46 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 Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service 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
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 6 1 7 1 2 2 0 0 8 proximity to a local pub. All of the rooms are single rooms with ensuite facilities and a good amount of communal space. Garden areas are available and in the process of being developed further for the safe use of all. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 6 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review:
What did we do for this annual service review? We looked at all the information we have received about Allington House since the last inspection on 17th December 2008. We looked at the homes Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA). This is a selfassessment document that the manager has completed to tell us how well outcomes are being met for the people who use this care home. We talked to social and health care professionals for their views of the service. We have also looked at any other information we have received, such as events or changes that the service has told us about. These are called notifications and it is important that care services keep us up-to-date about anything that might affect the people who live here or the running of the home. We have also looked at the previous inspection report to see what improvements the home has made since then. What has this told us about the service? Allington House sent us the AQAA when we asked for it. It was very detailed and gave us all the information we asked for. The AQAA shows that the home has continued to make improvements to its service since the last key inspection. As a result of residents and relatives views, the home now holds regular Resident and Family Meetings to gain their views and suggestions about the service. The manager also said that the home would like to develop a quality committee to review the current service and to identify areas for future improvement. The home now produces regular newsletters to keep residents and relatives informed about forthcoming events at the home. The manager is also planning to email the newsletters to relatives who are unable to visit, to keep them in touch with news about the home. In the dementia care unit letterboxes and door knockers have been fitted to bedroom doors to make them more familiar and homely to residents. The AQAA also stated that there are plans to make tactile walls in this unit for the interest and stimulation of the people who live here. The home has plans for one staff to be trained as a Dignity Champion so they can promote dignity as a intrinsic part of all practices in the home. The home has new garden furniture and shade umbrellas, and there has been some landscaping of the garden. The manager said that she would also like to have the garden fully enclosed so that it can offer a sheltered and safe place for people to sit in better weather. All staff now have, or are working towards, a national qualification in care (called NVQs). It is good practice that one staff is now also a moving & assisting trainer. This staff can provide training to all new staff as soon as they start work, and refresher Annual Service Review Page 4 of 6 training for existing staff whenever they need it. Following some medication errors at the home over the past few months, the home now has an audit trail to ensure medication is correctly managed. There have been no complaints received about this home. There has been one safeguarding adults alert recently about some staff practices. The Provider responded very quickly and carried out a full investigation. The home worked well with social and health professionals about this matter, and took appropriate action to put things right as quickly as possible. This shows that the home takes complaints and allegations very seriously and acts on them to prevent the risk of harm to residents. Staff are now having further training in the protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) and are being supported to recognise complaints and adult protection matters. In discussions, social and health care professionals said they were satisfied with the way that the Provider had managed this matter, and had renewed confidence in the service. There was one requirement made at the last inspection, but this is still outstanding. It is a legal requirement that the home must have a registered manager. The manager has been in post for the year, but has still not applied for registration with the Care Quality Commission. The Provider must ensure that this matter is addressed immediately as this is a breach of the Care Standards Act and accompanying regulations. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We will not change our inspection plan. However we can inspect the home at any time if we have concerns about the quality or safety of the service. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 6 Reader Information
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