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Inspection on 01/07/09 for Amber House

Also see our care home review for Amber House for more information

This inspection was carried out on 1st July 2009.

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

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.

What follows are excerpts from this inspection report. For more information read the full report on the next tab.

What the care home does well

People living at the home, their relatives and staff were informed and reassured when the home went into administration. Since this time the service has operated as normal. No people have left the home and new people have continued to be admitted. The home is currently fully occupied. People living at the home and staff told us they are happy and settled. Good staffing levels are maintained to make sure people are properly cared for. No staff have left employment, other than for maternity leave. No complaints about the service have been made, either directly to the home or to the Care Quality Commission, since the last inspection. Improvements required from the last inspection have been addressed: New carpet is fitted throughout the ground floor corridor and the uneven area of flooring was repaired. Ventilation is provided in all toilets. Staff recruitment details now include photograph, proof of identification, and two references. Reports on the conduct of the home are prepared as a result of monthly visits from the named contact person from the management company that oversees the home. Copies of reports are sent to the Care Quality Commission so we can check the quality of the service is being monitored properly.

What the care home could do better:

The policy on self-administration of medication has not yet been revised. This needs to be done so it is clear and reflects the practice of the home that people can take responsibility for their medication and risks in doing so are assessed.

Random inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Amber House Martin Way Brunswick Village Newcastle Upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE13 7EZ two star good service 17/10/2008 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: 0 1 0 7 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Amber House Martin Way Brunswick Village Newcastle Upon Tyne Tyne & Wear NE13 7EZ 01912368205 01912362162 amberhouse@btconnect.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) : Helpcare Ltd care home 30 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 13 16 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 1 0 One bed can be used to accommodate a named service user with dementia under pensionable age. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Amber House is a registered care home for older people, including people with dementia. The home is located within a residential area of Brunswick Village. Accommodation is over two floors and a passenger lift is available. The home has single and double bedrooms, six of which have en-suite facilities. All rooms are currently used for single occupancy. There is access to local facilities and public transport. 1 7 1 0 2 0 0 8 Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 7 Brief description of the care home A guide to the homes services, inspection reports and details of fees are available from the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 7 What we found: This inspection was carried out to monitor the situation of the home since it went into administration in November 2008, and check the progress the home has made to meet improvements required from the key inspection of 15th October 2008. An inspector visited the home unannounced on 1st July 2009 and spent time talking to the deputy manager, other staff and people living at the home about the service. Relevant records were also examined. 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 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 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. 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