Inspection on 27/10/08 for Bel-Air Residential Care Home

This inspection was carried out on 27th October 2008.

CSCI found this care home to be providing an Poor 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.

Other inspections for this house

Bel-Air Residential Care Home 14/12/09

Bel-Air Residential Care Home 02/01/09

Bel-Air Residential Care Home 17/07/08

Similar services:

Chesham House

Argyll House

Coopers Mill Ltd

Bramley Avenue (73)

Paradise Lodge

Grangewood

Upaya Ananda

Newton Court (1-2)

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 18/06/2009.

Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report Care homes for adults (18-65 years) Name: Address: Bel-Air Residential Care Home 76 Bushey Hall Road Bushey Watford Herts WD23 2EQ zero star poor service 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 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: Claire Farrier Date: 2 7 1 0 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Bel-Air Residential Care Home 76 Bushey Hall Road Bushey Watford Herts WD23 2EQ 01923332540 01923332540 mo@portlandcarehomes.co.uk 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) : Portland Care Homes Ltd care home 6 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 0 learning disability mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia Conditions of registration: 6 6 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: Mental Disorder, excluding learning disability and dementia - Code MD Learning Disability - Code LD The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is 6 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Bel-Air is a care home providing personal care and accommodation for six people with mental health needs. It is owned by Portland Care Homes, a private company. The home was opened in 2007 and consists of a three storey terraced house in a residential road. It is indistinguishable from the other houses in the road. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home The home is located close to the centre of Watford, with its shopping malls, community health facilities and hospital. There is a small parade of shops within a short walking distance and easy access to major rail, bus and road transport. All the homes bedrooms are single. All the bedrooms have ensuite toilet and washbasin, and three have an ensuite shower. There is no lift and the home is not suitable for service users with mobility difficulties. The garden at the rear is mainly laid to grass with a large paved patio. The garden is shared with the company?s sister home next door. The current fees range from £800 to £1400 per week. Information regarding the service is available in the Statement of Purpose & Service Users Guide. A copy of the CSCI inspection report will be available from the manager. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 9 What we found: The purpose of this inspection was to monitor the progress that has been made towards meeting the requirements from the last key inspection. The manager sent us an improvement plan, with the actions that were being taken to meet each requirement, and the timescale for completing the actions. We used the information from the improvement plan in planning this inspection. During our visit to the home we discussed the improvements that have been made with the manager. We looked at a sample of care plans, and we checked the current staffing rotas. We looked at staff files for new staff who have been appointed since the last inspection, and the records of staff training. We saw the new Statement of Purpose and Service Users Guide, and the new procedure for safeguarding vulnerable people. The manager and staff have worked hard to improve the quality of care provided in the home. We are satisfied with the progress that has been made towards meeting all the requirements from the last key inspection. However the proprietors did not attend a meeting that had been agreed, to discuss the outcomes from the inspection report with CSCI. Portland Care Homes has a Person Centred Planning Book that involves each person in writing their own care plan and making decisions and choices about their lives in the home and the support that they need. We saw one that has been completed. It was reported that a procedure is in place for the actions to take if one of the residents does not return to the home when they are expected. We saw evidence that peoples weight is monitored regularly as a tool for monitoring good health. The staff monitor wht people eat to make sure that they follow a healthy diet. We did not see evidence of the activities that people take part in. However the changes in the staff structure means that staff are now available to support people to take part in their choice of activities in the home and in the community. The deputy manager has sourced possible community activities, and a list of these is given to each resident. During our visit one person was out for coffee with a member of staff. At the last residents meeting people made suggestions of community activities they would like. One person would like to do a college course. There is now a separate staff team for Bel-Air, and no one also works in Bellevue. We saw the staffing rota for this week and last week. There are two staff on duty throughout the day, and one at night. No one works excess shifts or hours, which may affect the quality of their work. A deputy manager has been appointed, and she is not included in rota, but is available to assist if needed. Everyone does a three day induction training that includes all the mandatory health and safety training. The existing staff had this training in March 2008, and another course has been scheduled for November for new staff. We saw certificates to show that staff attended training in mental health and learning difficulties in September. This should improve their understanding of how to support the people who live in the home. The deputy manager has sourced additional training from Hertfordshire Social services in person centred planning, supervision skills and risk management. The Statement of Purpose and Service Users guide have been revised. Both these Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 9 documents now contain all the information that people need to help them to choose whether to live in Bellevue. We discussed how the Service User Guide can be improved further, so that it is easier for people to read and understand, and so that it shows what the home is like for the people who live there. Portland Care Homes policies and procedures are being introduced to replace existing ones. We saw the new procedure for safeguarding vulnerable people. It contains clear guidelines, including the Hertfordshire interagency procedures and contact details for reporting allegations. The medication policy has been revised, and now states that no homely remedies are kept in the home. If anyone needs painkillers they are referred to the GP. The improvement plan states, We intend to have at least 3 fire drills during the course of a year to ensure that all staff are involved. We saw the record of a recent fire drill. It recorded the names of everyone who took part, and comments on the process. The improvement plan stated that the policy for laundry has been amended. Red alginate bags are now used to separate soiled washing and it is washed separately. The improvement plan also stated that the Home has discarded fabric towels except for the use of residents in their bedrooms. Liquid soap and paper towels have provided for washrooms and kitchens. During our visit we saw that this has been put in place. 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 9 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes R No £ 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 1 6 15(1) & (2) The care plans and risk 31/10/2008 assessments contain appropriate information on personal and health care needs, but there is little indication of the involvement of each person in setting up and reviewing their care plan in accordance with the principles and practice of person centred planning. Measures must be put in place to ensure that residents are involved in decisions about their care, and that these are recorded appropriately. 2 9 13(4) Appropriate and adequate risk assessments must be put in place for all residents for situations in which there is any risk of harm or injury to themselves or others. 31/10/2008 3 12 16(2)(n) Arrangements must be put in 31/10/2008 place so that the people in the home are able to take part in their choice of community activities outside of the home, including opportunities for employment and education. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 9 4 14 16(2)(n) The manager must make 31/10/2008 sure that everyone in the home has a choice of varied and appropriate activities throughout the day. Meaningful activities need to be developed that meet each person?s individual needs. The registered person must 31/10/2008 ensure that appropriate care plans and recording are in place for all the residents health care needs, and in particular for weight management and good nutrition. A system for monitoring the quality of care must be established, that focuses on the consultation with the service users and other involved people, and provides feedback on the process and the results of the consultation. 31/10/2008 5 19 12(1)(a) 6 39 24 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 9 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 12 16 Arrangements must be made 27/12/2008 so that people in the home are able to take part in their choice of community activities outside of the home. Including opportunities for employment and education 2 34 19 A recent photograph of each member of staff must be kept in the home, as required by Schedule 2 of the Care Homes Regulations 2001. Photographs of the staff provide evidence of their identity. This provides assurance that they are fit to work with the vulnerable people who live in the home. 27/12/2008 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 9 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 Adults (18-65 years) 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 © (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. 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