Inspection on 27/01/09 for Briar Court Nursing Home

This inspection was carried out on 27th January 2009.

CSCI 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.

Other inspections for this house

Briar Court Nursing Home 06/09/06

Briar Court Nursing Home 31/01/06

Briar Court Nursing Home 08/09/05

Briar Court Nursing Home 08/11/04

Briar Court Nursing Home 14/07/04

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Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 08/06/2011.

Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for adults (18-65 years) Name: Address: Briar Court Nursing Home 57-59 Hutton Avenue Hartlepool TS26 9PW two star good service The quality rating for this care home is: 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. Lead inspector: Tanya Newton Date: 2 7 0 1 2 0 0 9 This is a report of an inspection where we looked at how well this care home is meeting the needs of people who use it. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better. We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area Outcome area (for example: Choice of home) These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection. This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor. Evidence: This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought 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 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to:  Put the people who use social care first  Improve services and stamp out bad practice  Be an expert voice on social care  Practise what we preach in our own organisation Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) 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. Internet address www.csci.org.uk Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Briar Court Nursing Home 57-59 Hutton Avenue Hartlepool TS26 9PW 01429224442 01429275800 barrysouthern@castlebeck.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) : Castlebeck Care (Teesdale) Limited care home 16 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 16 0 learning disability Additional conditions: The registered person may provide 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 are within the folliowng category: Learning Disability - Code LD, maximum number of places 16 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 16 Date of last inspection 0 6 0 9 2 0 0 6 A bit about the care home Briar Court is a registered care home with nursing. The home provides accommodation for eleven younger adults with a learning disability. Briar Court is a detached house in a private residential area in Hartlepool. The home is within easy walking distance of the town centre and local amenities. There is good access to public transport. The home provides single bedroom accommodation with a range of bathing facilities available. There are two lounge areas, one dining room, kitchen, laundry and a garden to the rear of the house. Fees range from £1479 to £2750 weekly and do not include hairdressing or chiropody. Please contact the home for individual fee arrangements. Summary This is an overview of what we found during the inspection. The quality rating for this care home is: Our judgement for each outcome: two star good service Choice of home Individual needs and choices Lifestyle Personal and healthcare support Concerns, complaints and protection Environment Staffing Conduct and management of the home How we did our inspection: This is what the inspector did when they were at the care home This inspection was unannounced. The visit to the home took place on the 27th January 2009 between the hours of 10:AM and 4:PM. All of the key national minimum standards were inspected. The inspector spoke to people who use the service and staff. A selection of records kept by the home was looked at. Prior to the inspection the home had completed a selfassessment document, which provided the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) with information to aid the inspection. Some people had also completed comment cards, saying what they thought about the service at the home. Comments from the people consulted during the inspection are included throughout the report What the care home does well A good standard of care is provided for the people who live at Briar Court Care Home. People have their needs assessed before moving into the home and each person has a care plan. This makes sure that the home is able to meet their needs. Families and friends are able to visit the home at any time and people can choose where they would like to see their visitors. People said that they were well cared for by the staff working in the home, and are encouraged to make choices and decisions about all aspects of daily living. This helps to promote their independence. Staff recruitment systems are safe and help to protect people. Staff said that they were well supported by the manager and enjoyed working in the home. Staff training is of a high standard. The home is well managed and run. There are good health and safety systems to safeguard people living and working at the home. What has got better from the last inspection Areas such as mental capacity are now included within care plans, this helps to promote peoples rights. The home is in the process of implementing individual health action plans for each individual, which will support staff in monitoring peoples health. The home has extended its registration to provide five self-contained flatlets for people who want to live in a more independent set up. What the care home could do better Care plans should be reviewed regularly so that the information within them is kept up to date. Staff should sign to say that they have read the adult protection procedure and a copy of the local procedure with contact numbers should be displayed to make it more accessible to staff. If you want to read the full report of our inspection please ask the person in charge of the care home If you want to speak to the inspector please contact Tanya Newton St Nicholas Building St Nicholas Street Newcastle NE1 1NB 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 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.csci.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by telephoning our order line - 0870 240 7535 Details of our findings Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 5) Individual needs and choices (standards 6-10) Lifestyle (standards 11 - 17) Personal and healthcare support (standards 18 - 21) Concerns, complaints and protection (standards 22 - 23) Environment (standards 24 - 30) Staffing (standards 31 - 36) Conduct and management of the home (standards 37 - 43) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Choice of home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them, what they hope for and want to achieve, and the support they need. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, and people close to them, can visit the home and get full, clear, accurate and up to date information. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between the person and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . Assessment procedures are in place to ensure that the home can meet all of the needs of the people who go to live there. Evidence: Two assessments were looked at during the inspection. Assessments were detailed and contained vast amounts of information about the individual. In addition to the initial assessment by the home, further assessments were available from other people, for example care managers and health care professionals. These are used in combination to form the initial care plan. Individual needs and choices These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People’s needs and goals are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. People are able to make decisions about their life, including their finances, with support if they need it. This is because the staff promote their rights and choices. People are supported to take risks to enable them to stay independent. This is because the staff have appropriate information on which to base decisions. People are asked about, and are involved in, all aspects of life in the home. This is because the manager and staff offer them opportunities to participate in the day to day running of the home and enable them to influence key decisions. People are confident that the home handles information about them appropriately. This is because the home has clear policies and procedures that staff follow. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . People are encouraged to make choices and decisions and care files reflect the way in which their individual needs should be met. Evidence: Care plans contain detailed information which show how each individuals needs will be met by the home. Each care plan also has a section which is called the person centered plan which is written in a user friendly format. This focuses on the individuals strengths and personal preferences. It sets out in detail how all of their current requirements and individual aspirations are to be met through positive individualised support. People are encouraged and supported to make choices and decisions wherever possible about their lives. This is recorded within their plan of care. Comments from people living at the home included, I sometimes make decisions, due to attendance at day services this is not always possible and most of the time I make decisions, sometimes staff do this for me. Care plans also cover issues such as mental capacity and risk management. Risks are managed positively to help people using the service to lead the life they want. Any limitations are always in the persons best interests, discussed with the individual and recorded within their plan of care. Some areas of the care plans viewed had not been reviewed to ensure that the information in them was up to date. Lifestyle These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They can take part in activities that are appropriate to their age and culture and are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives and the home supports them to have appropriate personal, family and sexual relationships. People are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. Their dignity and rights are respected in their daily life. People have healthy, well-presented meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. People have opportunities to develop their social, emotional, communication and independent living skills. This is because the staff support their personal development. People choose and participate in suitable leisure activities. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . People enjoy a range of activities which they help to choose and plan. They are supported and encouraged to see relatives and make choices regarding their lives. The meals are of a good standard and people are given a choice. Evidence: People living at Briar Court attend a range of social, leisure and occupational activities. Comments from people living at the home include, I go to college and do a literacy course, I can have visitors and I enjoy having my own flat, I went to London last year, we all choose what we want to eat and we are encouraged to be independent,I go into town independently and I work in a launderette for two days each week, I am going to visit my mum in the summer and I go to college and am training to be a chef, I am going on holiday this year. A visiting professional commented the home ensures that people have optimum access to the local community and people attend trips and holidays to chosen places.Comments from staff included, the service does well in terms of promoting the independence of people. People are able to access the local community and are given the choice and support to do things for themselves and In the time that I have worked for Castlebeck, I have supported people in being able to live more independently and attaining small voluntary jobs, this has been an achievement for both the individuals and myself. Comments about the meals were also positive, some of the people living at the home are keeping their own 5 a day charts to help support them in eating healthily. Personal and healthcare support These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People receive personal support from staff in the way they prefer and want. Their physical and emotional health needs are met because the home has procedures in place that staff follow. If people take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it in a safe way. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them to feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . The personal and health care needs of the service users accommodated are being met. Evidence: Comments from health professionals about the care include, there are good links with the local GP and good planning for physical needs. The home manages people with complex needs who require structure, routine and clear boundaries and they provide a consistent and carefully planned service to my client. They inform me if there are any concerns and are able to support people during difficult situations. The home are in the process of implementing individual health action plans for each individual which will support staff in monitoring peoples health. Care plans detail the level of support that each person requires with their personal care. This support differs with each individual and is dependant upon his or her individual capabilities. General health care needs are met by community health services for example GPs, dentists and opticians. Castlebeck Care consultants and specialist health care staff provide services to meet the emotional and behavioural needs of service users. Medication systems were viewed, the home uses the Boots Monitored Dosage System. Qualified nurses administer all medication unless people are on holiday. During holidays carers administer medication. They have carried out training in the safe handling of medicines to ensure that they are competent to do so. Some of the people living in the annexe said that they would like to administer their own medication as at present they have to walk next door to be given them. The advice of CSCI pharmacy inspectors is being sought regarding this. Concerns, complaints and protection These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them, know how to complain. Their concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse, neglect and self-harm and takes action to follow up any allegations. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . The home has clear policies and procedures in place to support and protect service users. Evidence: The home has policies in place for people living at the home, relatives and others to raise complaints. A pictorial complaints procedure is also available. All of the people who completed surveys said that they would feel confident in raising any concerns and that they knew how to do this. Comments included, I would use the complaints book and write the complaint out myselfand I would tell the staff. There are policies in place to protect service users from risks of abuse. The majority of staff have been trained in adult protection. All staff said that they would whistle blow (tell someone) if they thought a resident was at risk of harm or abuse. It is recommended that the home get staff to sign to say that they have read the adult protection policy and that a copy of the local procedure with contact numbers is displayed so that it is easily accessible to all staff. Evidence: Environment These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, comfortable, pleasant and hygienic. People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. People have enough privacy when using toilets and bathrooms. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . The home is clean and well maintained. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard and provides a homely environment for the people who live there. Evidence: A tour of the environment was taken. It is clean and homely. Bedrooms are individually furnished and decorated to reflect peoples individual choice. The living room has been decorated. The home has a laundry area where people are supported in carrying out their own washing, drying and ironing. One of the people living in the main house said,I would like to see some decor, this quiet lounge needs decorating. There is a large garden with ramped access and garden furniture so that people can sit outside in the warmer weather. The home also now has an annexe next door which is split into five individual flat lets, each with their own bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and lounge. These are used to support people who want a more independent set up. Comments about the environment includeIts better living as a small group and I love my flat, I have my own fridge and microwave, its my home. Staffing These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent, qualified staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable. People’s needs are met and they are supported because staff get the right training, supervision and support they need from their managers. People are supported by an effective staff team who understand and do what is expected of them. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . Staff are appropriately recruited, trained and in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the people who live in the home. Evidence: The home had staff files in place, which provided evidence that the appointment of new members of staff is made through proper recruitment processes. This includes the vetting of staff through the use of Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks, Protection of Vulnerable Adult checks (POVA) and written references. Staff are appropriately recruited, trained and in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the people who live in the home. The home has a clear commitment to its induction, training and supervision of staff, out of the sixteen care staff employed five have an NVQ at level 3 and five are working towards this and seven have an NVQ 2 and two are working towards this. Mandatory training in first aid, moving and handling, fire, health and safety, food hygiene and protection of vulnerable adults is ongoing. Staff also attend shared approach training where good practice is shared across the units. Comments from staff include, I felt that my induction covered all relevant points and is updated with my training and supervision, All mandatory training is provided. The unit tries to fulfill all requested training where possible and The unit always has its minimum numbers on duty if not more. Conduct and management of the home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have confidence in the care home because it is run and managed appropriately. People’s opinions are central to how the home develops and reviews their practice, as the home has appropriate ways of making sure they continue to get things right. The environment is safe for people and staff because health and safety practices are carried out. People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately, with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. They are safeguarded because the home follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and makes sure staff understand the way things should be done. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service . People can be assured that the home is well managed and they are given the opportunity to comment on how the home is run. Policies and procedures are in place to safeguard their health, safety and wellbeing. Evidence: The management arrangements in the home are good. Staff said, We have regular supervision, we can approach our manager with any concerns we may have just as our manager will approach us at the end of the day with any feedback from the day and the manager is very approachable to discuss any problems or concerns. The home has good internal systems to gain feedback from people about the service provided. The manager is in daily contact with people living at the home and operates an open door policy. Meetings are also held every week. This gives people an opportunity to make their views about the home known. The manager carries out a quality assurance and monitoring audit on a monthly basis. This covers all aspects of care delivery and environmental issues. Copies of these were available in the home. The home carries out risk assessments which helps to minimise risk. As far as possible people are involved in this process and sign to say they agree to it. The manager confirmed that the home carries out regular health & safety checks. The inspector checked some of the records. Those viewed were up to date. Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes  No  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, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 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 Description 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 Description 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 1 2 6 23 Care plans should be reviewed reguarly so that the information within them is kept up to date. It is recommended that the home get staff to sign to say that they have read the adult protection policy and that a copy of the local procedure with contact numbers is displayed so that it is easily accessible to all staff. 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