This inspection was carried out on 14th October 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.
Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Avalon Care Home 24 Duke Street Southport Merseyside PR8 1LW The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed inspection. 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: Stephanie West Date: 1 4 1 0 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Avalon Care Home 24 Duke Street Southport Merseyside PR8 1LW 01512008841 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Avalon Residential Homes Ltd care home 20 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 dementia mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia old age, not falling within any other category 0 0 0 Over 65 20 1 3 Conditions of registration: 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: Code OP (maximum number of places: 3). Dementia over 65 years of age: Code DE(E) (maximum number of places: 20). Mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia over 65 years of age: Code MD(E) (maximum number of places: 1) The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 20. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 Avalon Residential Care Homes Ltd purchased Avalon care home in July 2004. Avalon is a Residential Care Home, which provides personal care and support for up to twenty elderly residents. Ann Wilson manages the home. The home is a large detached converted house, set in a residential area, within walking distance of all the amenities of the town of Southport. Access to the town can be made via the local transport services where necessary. A lift provides access to all floors of the home. There is a large dining/ lounge area, a smoking room and gardens to front and rear, which can be accessed via the basement. Fees for the service are currently charged at 325 pounds per week. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found:
The home was randomly selected for a visit to look at the arrangements for handling medication. The visit lasted approximately four hours and involved discussing the handling of medication with senior staff, examination of medicine records and storage arrangements. At the end of the inspection feedback was given to the manager. Medication was mostly well managed. Medicines policies provided clear guidance to staff in the handling of medicines at the home and staff have completed certificated training in the safe handling of medication. The home has arrangements in place so that non-prescribed medicines for the treatment of minor ailments can be given. This benefits people at the service as they can receive treatment for conditions such as minor pain without delay and without the need to see the doctor. Part of the morning medicines round was observed. Care was taken to complete the records immediately after administration to help ensure they are accurately maintained, reducing the risk of mistakes. Patient support was offered where people needed help when taking their medicines. But, it was of concern that although the quantity of a liquid medicine prescribed for one person was enough to last the month, it had run out two days before the new supply came. This may be because of a spill. Care needs to be taken to ensure new supplies are promptly ordered if a medicine is spilled, or if it becomes clear a bottle will not last the month, to reduce the risk that doses will be missed because there is none left to give. Records showing the administration of medication were generally up-to-date but there were some areas that could be improved to ensure the completeness and clarity of these records: When medicines were prescribed for example, one or two the actual dose given was not recorded and records were not made to show the application of prescribed creams. It is important to show exactly what was administered and records for the application of prescribed creams must be accurately maintained, as for any prescribed medication. Where quantities of medication were brought forward from a previous months delivery the quantity was not recorded. Recoding the carry forward quantity will make it easier for the manager to track the safe handling of medicines at the home. Most administration records were pre-printed by the pharmacist but where handwritten entries were made these were not always signed and countersigned. This is recommended to help reduce the risk of errors. The pre-printed records did not include the actual times of administration, showing only for example, Morning. The supplying pharmacists should be approached to see if the actual times medicines are administered could be printed on. Records for the receipt and disposal of medication were generally clear and accurate. Records of communication with healthcare professionals such as G.Ps were generally clearly made, but some were missing. This meant it was not always possible to track any changes to peoples medicines. It is important that records are always made to ensure changes are promptly made and where needed, followed-up. We found that medicines were stored securely. This helps to ensure that they are not misused or mishandled. We checked the arrangements for storing and recording controlled drugs (medicines that can be misused). The law on how to look after these Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 8 medicines has changed and the manager had ordered a new cupboard that will meet with current law. The controlled drugs register accurately showed the current stock of controlled drugs, but there had been some gaps and crossings out in this record. It is important that the register is clearly and accurately maintained to demonstrate the safe handling of controlled drugs. There should be no blank lines and any amendments need to be clearly marked and signed. The supplying pharmacist carries out checks of medicines handling at the home and leaves a written report. But in-house audits (written checks) of medication handling were not completed; this is recommended to help ensure medicines are safely handled and that should any weaknesses arise, they will be identified and quickly addressed. 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 5 of 8 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R Outstanding statutory requirements These requirements were set at the last inspection. They may not have been looked at during this inspection, as a random inspection is short and focussed. The registered person must take the necessary action to comply with these requirements within the timescales set.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 8 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 9 13 Complete, clear and accurate 01/12/2008 records of all medication administered, including prescribed external preparations (e.g. creams) must be maintained to help ensure medication is safely administered as prescribed. 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 9 Handwritten entries should be signed and countersigned to reduce the risk of errors. A written audit (check) of medicines handling should be regularly completed to help ensure medicines are safely handled. Quantities of any medicines carried forward from the previous month should be recorded to enable the safe handling of medicines to be tracked. Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 8 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report CSCI 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: 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 © (2008) 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 8 of 8 - 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!
