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Inspection on 23/07/09 for Astor Court Care Home

Also see our care home review for Astor Court Care Home for more information

This inspection was carried out on 23rd July 2009.

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 Excellent.

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.

Annual service review Name of Service: Astor Court Care Home The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent 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 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: Anne UrwinBrown Date of this annual service review: 2 3 0 7 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 6 Information about the service Address of service: Lamb Street East Cramlington Northumberland NE23 6SF 01670738890 01670738892 astorcourt@schealthcare.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mr Kevin Thomas Bailey 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 25 0 0 18 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is 43 The registered person may provide the following categories 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 with any other category - Code OP, maximum number of places: 18 Dementia Code DE, maximum number of places: 25 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 Astor Court is a purpose built home in a rural area of Northumberland on a site comprising of two homes: Astor Lodge View and Astor Court. Both homes have only Annual Service Review Page 2 of 6 recently been taken over by Southern Cross Healthcare. Astor Lodge was not part of this inspection, having its own separate registration. The village of East Cramlington is a short distance away, with a small range of local amenities including shops, public houses, a post office and Church. The area is served by public transport. The coastal areas of Northumberland and the town centres of Cramlington and Blyth are within easy reach by bus or car. Astor Court is registered to provide care to forty-three older people, twenty-five of whom have dementia. All areas internally and externally are accessible to wheelchair users and all people living at the home are able to enjoy single bedrooms with en suite facilities. Externally, generous car parking is available and the gardens planted with shrubs surround the home . Fees range from £419.08 to £535. There is a Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide in place to inform prospective residents and their relatives about the service provided at Astor Court. 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 the last key inspection carried out on 27 July 2007 and at the last Annual Service Review carried out on 23 July 2008. The rating was last reviewed on 27 July 2007. We looked at all the information that we have received, or asked for, since the last annual service review. This included: The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the service. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. Surveys returned to us by people using the service and from other people with an interest in the service. Information we have about how the service has managed any complaints. What the service has told us about things that have happened in the service, these are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous key inspection and the results of any other visits that we have made to the service in the last 12 months. Relevant information from other organisations. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The home sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it. It was clear and gave us all the information we asked for. We looked at the information in the AQAA and the information we have received about the service and our judgement is that the home is still providing an excellent service and that they know what further improvements they need to make. The service tells us that they continue to listen to people using the service and use reviews to collect information about what people are happy with and what they would like to change. They tell us that they have made improvements to the social activities and outings as a result of listening to people living in the home. Five people living in the home responded to surveys sent to them asking for their views about the service. Most surveys provided positive comments about the service, which they said had improved since the new manager has been appointed. One person expressed concerns about the need for more attention to peoples personal care, while others said that this has improved recently. Three surveys said that staff give people the care and attention they need, while one says that most staff are very caring and response, but that a small number appear indifferent at times. One survey said that Annual Service Review Page 4 of 6 issues raised with the new manager have been acted upon immediately and that she is very approachable and helpful. Another said that staff are sometimes over worked. The AQAA tells us that the homes policies and procedures take account of equality and diversity principles. Staff training includes references to this and it is included in induction training for all new staff. The home has started to have regular meetings with relatives. Work is going on the improve the environment for people living in Astor Court including the garden and other external areas. The AQAA says that there is a structured maintenance plan in place with daily, weekly and monthly checks in place. Health and safety training is in place and staff are updated as necessary. It also says there is an ongoing refurbishment programme in place and that bedrooms are decorated and refurbished as they become vacant. The AQAA says there are good systems are in place for dealing with complaints and that the home welcomes comments about the service. All staff receive safeguarding training to ensure that they know what to do if an allegation of abuse is made. Systems are in place for dealing with safeguarding matters that protect the people living in the home. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do a key inspection by 22 July 2010. However we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of the people using the service. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 6 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Annual service review CQC General Public 0870 240 7535 (national contact centre) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. The content of which can be found on our website. 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 copy of the findings 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. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 6 - 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!