Inspection on 02/05/07 for Derwen College

This inspection was carried out on 2nd May 2007.

CSCI has not published a star rating for this report, though using similar criteria we estimate that the report is Good. The way we rate inspection reports is consistent for all houses, though please be aware that this may be different from an official CSCI judgement.

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

Derwen College 22/01/06

Derwen College 11/10/05

Derwen College 07/12/04

Derwen College 14/05/04

Derwen College 26/02/04

Similar services:

Polesworth Group Friary Road

Polesworth Group Pooley Heights

Polesworth Group 32 Station Road

Polesworth Group 70 Long Street

Breme

Polesworth Group 64 Long Street

Polesworth Group 68 Long Street

10 Whitfield Avenue

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 08/07/2008.

CARE HOME ADULTS 18-65 Derwen College Gobowen Oswestry Shropshire SY11 3JA Lead Inspector Mike Moloney Key Announced Inspection 2nd May 2007 09:30 Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 1 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 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection Report CSCI General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI www.csci.org.uk Internet address Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 2 This is a report of an inspection to assess whether services are meeting the needs of people who use them. The legal basis for conducting inspections is the Care Standards Act 2000 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for this establishment are those for Care Homes for Adults 18-65. They can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or obtained from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop This report is a public document. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the prior permission of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 3 SERVICE INFORMATION Name of service Derwen College Address Gobowen Oswestry Shropshire SY11 3JA 01691 661234 01691 670714 Telephone number Fax number Email address Provider Web address Name of registered provider(s)/company (if applicable) Name of registered manager (if applicable) Type of registration No. of places registered (if applicable) The Trustees Mr David John Kendall Care Home 252 Category(ies) of Learning disability (252) registration, with number of places Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 4 SERVICE INFORMATION Conditions of registration: 1. 2. 3. The home may accommodate 252 persons with a learning disability. Students who are between the ages of sixteen and eighteen can be accommodated in the service. No person under the age of 18 years can be accommodated in the same residential block as a service user over the age of 25 years. 11th October 2005 Date of last inspection Brief Description of the Service: Derwen College (incorporating Derwen Enterprises) being a Registered Charity, No 208745, is a specialist college committed to promoting, through inclusive learning, vocational, educational, personal and social development of young people with a wide range of learning difficulties and disabilities. The Director is Mr D J Kendall who is assisted by a senior management team including a Head of Care. The College is situated in Gobowen, near the market town of Oswestry in North Shropshire, within easy reach of all community resources and facilities. It was founded in 1927, is set in 50 acres of parkland, and offers further education, care and accommodation for 252 young people. Spread over such a large campus the College provides accommodation in a variety of settings, from purpose built specially equipped residences to smaller flats and bungalows. An on site purpose built medical centre provides a further range of facilities to meet the needs of students. These are fully described in the Prospectus. The fees for the College currently range from:£26,689 per annum to £42,303 per annum Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 5 SUMMARY This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. This inspection was undertaken over two separate days the first being Wednesday 2nd May 2007 and the second being Saturday 5th May 2007. The first day was more to examine documents and talk to the management team whilst the second was more to talk to students, trainees and staff while the young people had more leisure time. A range of evidence was used to make judgements about this service. This includes: information from the management team, records kept in the college, medication records, discussions with the staff team, tour of the premises, previous inspection reports and talking with as well as observing the care experienced by people using the college. What the service does well: Derwen College identifies what the students needs are and the students say that they work with the staff to identify the things that would be good for them to work towards. They say that they have many opportunities to take part in activities that they enjoy doing at the weekends and in the evenings both inside the college grounds as well as away from the site. They always receive the support of the staff during these activities. There are a number of different types of well maintained accommodation that students can live in depending on how much support they need from staff. All of the accommodation is easily accessible to people who have mobility problems and the buildings have been modified with such things as ramps and automatic doors to make it easier for everyone to move around. Students who use wheelchairs said that they find it easy to get around. Students also said that the staff are all very caring and are good at helping people who find it more difficult to care for themselves or who may need help in talking things through. The college encourages students to say what they want. They send out questionnaires to the students at the end of each year to find out if they have been treated how they would want to be and the Student Council have created their own questionnaires that they are starting to send out for themselves containing questions about things that are important to them during the year. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 6 What has improved since the last inspection? What they could do better: Please contact the provider for advice of actions taken in response to this inspection. The report of this inspection is available from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by contacting your local CSCI office. The summary of this inspection report can be made available in other formats on request. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 7 DETAILS OF INSPECTOR 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) Scoring of Outcomes Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 8 Choice of Home The intended outcomes for Standards 1 – 5 are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Prospective service users have the information they need to make an informed choice about where to live. Prospective users’ individual aspirations and needs are assessed. Prospective service users know that the home that they will choose will meet their needs and aspirations. Prospective service users have an opportunity to visit and to “test drive” the home. Each service user has an individual written contract or statement of terms and conditions with the home. The Commission consider Standard 2 the key standard to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 1, 2 and 3 Quality in this outcome area is excellent. Prospective students and their representatives have the information needed to choose a college that will meet their needs. They have their needs assessed and information which clearly tells them about the service the will receive. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: The college publishes a prospectus each year that provides information to potential students and their parents. The records of six new students were looked at. Information obtained about the students prior to them starting at the college was seen to be comprehensive and gathered from information provided by the placing authority, parents as well as the students themselves on a variety of documents. The assessment process included not only the educational aspirations of the students but many of their social ones such as where they would like to live and in what type of accommodation. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 9 Personal care needs were also looked at so that the College could plan what levels of assistance each person would need during their stay. The assessment process is continuous throughout the students stay at the college but it is particularly emphasised during the first term. Talking to some of the students confirmed that they had been fully involved in this process as did the records kept by their personal tutors. They also confirmed that their preferences had been taken into account when their care plans had been developed. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 10 Individual Needs and Choices The intended outcomes for Standards 6 – 10 are: 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Service users know their assessed and changing needs and personal goals are reflected in their individual Plan. Service users make decisions about their lives with assistance as needed. Service users are consulted on, and participate in, all aspects of life in the home. Service users are supported to take risks as part of an independent lifestyle. Service users know that information about them is handled appropriately, and that their confidences are kept. The Commission considers Standards 6, 7 and 9 the key standards to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 6, 7 and 9 Quality in this outcome area is excellent. Individuals are involved in decisions about their lives and play an active role in planning the care and support they receive. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: The records of eight of the students were looked at. These contained a variety of documents that were kept in both hard copy and in electronic form, the latter being available to the staff on the colleges intranet system. The information kept enabled a care plan to be developed and risk assessments to be drawn up for important activities including such things as road safety. As these documents are kept on the college intranet they are easily accessible to any staff who need to access the information that they contain. This was discreetly demonstrated on a number of occasions throughout the inspection when staff were approached by students about taking part in weekend activities. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 11 Looking at the records as well as talking to the student showed that they are regularly updated as the needs and skill levels of the individual changes. During discussions with groups of students and staff the staff were often heard encouraging some of the quieter students to take part in activities. This was done in a sensitive manner and the students reactions suggested that they were used to this approach and considered it to be encouragement. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 12 Lifestyle The intended outcomes for Standards 11 - 17 are: 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Service users have opportunities for personal development. Service users are able to take part in age, peer and culturally appropriate activities. Service users are part of the local community. Service users engage in appropriate leisure activities. Service users have appropriate personal, family and sexual relationships. Service users’ rights are respected and responsibilities recognised in their daily lives. Service users are offered a healthy diet and enjoy their meals and mealtimes. The Commission considers Standards 12, 13, 15, 16 and 17 the key standards to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 Quality in this outcome area is excellent. Students and trainees are able to make choices about their life style and are supported to develop their life skills. Social, educational, cultural and recreational activities meet individual’s expectations. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: The files of eight of the student were looked at and a large number of the students were spoken to. On the second morning of the inspection many of those who were waiting to go out on the organised trips were happy to chat about where they were going, where they had been in the past and what activities they wanted to take part in the future. Around fifty students were seen to go out on the trips that morning, approximately twenty-five were seen to be using the computers in the recently opened Information Technology block at any one time and a large group took part in a series of football matches on the sports field. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 13 A large number of the student were seen relaxing either on their own or in small groups in the social centre, the grounds or their accommodation. A number of the students were happy to discuss their activities with the inspector throughout the day and talking with them it was clear that most take regular advantage of the opportunity to go out on the trips and a number saying that they did not want to go on that occasion as there was an important football match on the television that afternoon. Talking to the students and the staff also confirmed that throughout the day they could go shopping in the town. For those who needed support to do so groups were organised to go with staff on the regular minibus run whilst others who had been assessed as being able to could catch the local public transport. It was also clear from the conversations that there are lots of friendships amongst the students. Talking with the staff it was also clear that they are aware of these so that they are in a position to give any guidance and support should the need arise. As the confidence and skills of the students develop they are able to undertake work placements in local businesses as part of their personal development plans and a number of the students spoke of their experiences, particularly in the catering industry. During the inspection the dining halls were visited on a number of occasions and the students who were spoken to about the meals were all very complimentary about the quality and the range of choice. Chef confirmed that the variety of dishes is expanded as the cultural diversity of the student group broadens. He talked about taking students on shopping trips to various parts of the country to obtain some of the more specialised ingredients. He also talked about the wide range of other special dietary needs that the college caters for such as nut allergies as well as other equally problematic issues such as obesity. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 14 Personal and Healthcare Support The intended outcomes for Standards 18 - 21 are: 18. 19. 20. 21. Service users receive personal support in the way they prefer and require. Service users’ physical and emotional health needs are met. Service users retain, administer and control their own medication where appropriate, and are protected by the home’s policies and procedures for dealing with medicines. The ageing, illness and death of a service user are handled with respect and as the individual would wish. The Commission considers Standards 18, 19, and 20 the key standards to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 18, 19 and 20 Quality in this outcome area is excellent. The health and personal care that people receive is based on their individual needs. The principles of choice, respect, dignity and privacy are put into practice. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: The records kept by the care staff in the accommodation areas showed the detailed support needs of the students. Talking to the students confirmed that they were indeed receiving that care and were satisfied with it. Talking with the staff on duty during the visit and listening to them talking with the students showed that they were familiar with the detail contained in the care plans and were therefore able to meet the student’s needs. The college has a purpose built health centre that is staffed by qualified nurses on a twenty-four hour basis. Staff confirmed that a doctor holds surgeries on a regular basis and responds to medical emergencies out of hours. Medication for the students is overseen from the health centre. The bulk is kept there but some is kept in Cadbury Court and Acorns. Storage and records Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 15 in all three locations were seen to be appropriate. The nurses on duty confirmed that a risk assessment relating to students who manage their own medication has been developed to enable people to take varying levels of responsibility within their medication management. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 16 Concerns, Complaints and Protection The intended outcomes for Standards 22 – 23 are: 22. 23. Service users feel their views are listened to and acted on. Service users are protected from abuse, neglect and self-harm. The Commission considers Standards 22, and 23 the key standards to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 22 and 23 Quality in this outcome area is good. People who use the college are able to express their concerns and have access to a robust, effective complaints procedure, are protected from abuse and have their rights protected. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: The college was seen to have a complaints procedure in place. A complaints book was seen that contained the details of any communications about the issues raised and the outcomes of any investigations. Talking with the students it was clear that should they have issues that they would like to raise many were capable of raising them with the staff either directly or through the Student Council. There have been no referrals into the local Adult Protection procedures since the last inspection. The staff training records showed and talking with a number of staff who were on duty at the time of the inspection confirmed that they have had training on this subject. The College holds cash on behalf of a number of the students. The administration staff responsible for doing so explained that cash is available from them at any time that the office is open. When the office is closed the duty officer can also access cash. The details of any transactions are passed back to the administration team who maintain the account balance for each Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 17 student. These accounts are balanced on a regular basis by other members of the team. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 18 Environment The intended outcomes for Standards 24 – 30 are: 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Service users live in a homely, comfortable and safe environment. Service users’ bedrooms suit their needs and lifestyles. Service users’ bedrooms promote their independence. Service users’ toilets and bathrooms provide sufficient privacy and meet their individual needs. Shared spaces complement and supplement service users’ individual rooms. Service users have the specialist equipment they require to maximise their independence. The home is clean and hygienic. The Commission considers Standards 24, and 30 the key standards to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 24 and 30 Quality in this outcome area is good. The physical design and layout of the college enables people who use the service to live in safe, well-maintained and comfortable environments with a variety of levels of supervision which encourages independence. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: The College is situated within walking distance of the village and has access to regular public transport. There were a number of residencies for students within the College grounds and also within the local community. A wide variety of styles of accommodation were seen to be provided such as single bed-sit, single rooms in halls of residence, bungalows and flats and students were allocated to these according to their skill levels and support needs. During this inspection a variety of, but not all types of accommodation were visited. Individuals rooms were visited by invitation and some were seen as the doors had been left open. All were seen to be in good decorative order. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 19 During the inspection the Information Technology building, the social centre and the two dining areas were visited on a number of occasions and were seen to be well used by the students. These building were also seen to be in good decorative order. A variety of appropriately sited and equipped laundry facilities were seen to be available to the students. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 20 Staffing The intended outcomes for Standards 31 – 36 are: 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. Service users benefit from clarity of staff roles and responsibilities. Service users are supported by competent and qualified staff. Service users are supported by an effective staff team. Service users are supported and protected by the home’s recruitment policy and practices. Service users’ individual and joint needs are met by appropriately trained staff. Service users benefit from well supported and supervised staff. The Commission considers Standards 32, 34 and 35 the key standards to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 32, 34, 35 and 36 Quality in this outcome area is excellent. Staff in the college are trained, skilled and in sufficient numbers to support the people who use the service. They are particularly sensitive to the needs of the students and are very positive in their responses to them. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: Looking at the staff training records and talking to the staff confirmed that more that 50 of the staff are already qualified to NVQ level 2 in care with many being qualified to a higher level. A number of the Heads of Houses have already achieved NVQ4 in care with others working towards it. The training records also showed that the staff had access to other training such as the mandatory safety training and courses specific disabilities such as Autism. Talking with staff at all levels confirmed that they had access to regular professional supervision. Observing the staff interacting with the young people it was clear that they are sensitive to and very focussed on the needs and wishes of the students. It could be seen that the students found all of the staff very approachable and likely to be sympathetic to their problems. The staff demonstrated a good Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 21 knowledge of all of the students’ needs and aspirations; even those who do not live in the accommodation in which they work. Observations of staffing levels during the inspection, talking to staff and looking at staff rotas in various residential areas showed that staff are available throughout the College in appropriate numbers. Talking with staff also showed that they move from residence to residence should one area require more assistance than was usual. The records of a number of staff who had started work at the College since the last inspection were looked at. The files contained evidence of the checks necessary to ensure the any person employed to work with the students and trainees was fit to do so. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 22 Conduct and Management of the Home The intended outcomes for Standards 37 – 43 are: 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. Service users benefit from a well run home. Service users benefit from the ethos, leadership and management approach of the home. Service users are confident their views underpin all self-monitoring, review and development by the home. Service users’ rights and best interests are safeguarded by the home’s policies and procedures. Service users’ rights and best interests are safeguarded by the home’s record keeping policies and procedures. The health, safety and welfare of service users are promoted and protected. Service users benefit from competent and accountable management of the service. The Commission considers Standards 37, 39, and 42 the key standards to be inspected. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 37, 39 and 42 Quality in this outcome area is excellent. The management and administration of the college is based on openness and respect, has effective quality assurance systems developed through a qualified and pro-active management team. This judgement has been made using available evidence including a visit to this service. EVIDENCE: A number of the Heads of Houses were spoken to during the inspection. Some had already achieved NVQ4 in care and others were working towards this. All expressed a lot of enthusiasm for this opportunity and were very positive about their personal development within the management team. All spoke positively of the support that they had received from the senior management team and were enthusiastic about developing their management skills and roles. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 23 Talking with the Director, the management team and the students established that the College’s Quality Assurance processes contain a number of elements. These include student surveys and stakeholder surveys that are carried out by the college staff as well as a survey that the Student Council is developing that is based upon the aspirations expressed by the student group themselves. This process has been monitored by the Commission for Social Care Inspection and it has been seen that the staff have been to great lengths to ensure that they have as little influence as possible on the course of the students own survey whilst still enabling the process. The results of the first trials of the survey were to seen be very encouraging. Further elements of the Quality Assurance process are the facilitating of the other work of the Student Council and weekly visits by two of the College Governors who make themselves available to any student who may wish to talk to them. A number of records relating to safety checks such as fire alarm tests and portable appliance testing were seen to be up to date. The records also showed that staff receive safety training of different types at appropriate intervals. Talking to a number of the students showed that they also receive safety training for which they are awarded certificates. This is particularly important for those who have work experience within the College when such things as food hygiene training is a legal requirement. Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 24 SCORING OF OUTCOMES This page summarises the assessment of the extent to which the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Adults 18-65 have been met and uses the following scale. The scale ranges from: 4 Standard Exceeded 2 Standard Almost Met (Commendable) (Minor Shortfalls) 3 Standard Met 1 Standard Not Met (No Shortfalls) (Major Shortfalls) “X” in the standard met box denotes standard not assessed on this occasion “N/A” in the standard met box denotes standard not applicable CHOICE OF HOME Standard No Score 1 3 2 4 3 3 4 x 5 x INDIVIDUAL NEEDS AND CHOICES Standard No 6 7 8 9 10 Score CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS Standard No Score 22 3 23 3 ENVIRONMENT Standard No Score 24 3 25 x 26 x 27 x 28 x 29 x 30 3 STAFFING Standard No Score 31 x 32 4 33 x 34 3 35 3 36 3 CONDUCT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HOME Standard No 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Score 4 4 x 4 x LIFESTYLES Standard No Score 11 4 12 4 13 4 14 4 15 3 16 3 17 4 PERSONAL AND HEALTHCARE SUPPORT Standard No 18 19 20 21 Score 4 3 3 x 3 x 4 x x 3 x Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 25 no Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action RECOMMENDATIONS These recommendations relate to National Minimum Standards and are seen as good practice for the Registered Provider/s to consider carrying out. No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 26 Commission for Social Care Inspection Shrewsbury Local Office 1st Floor, Chapter House South Abbey Lawn Abbey Foregate SHREWSBURY SY2 5DE National Enquiry Line: 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 © This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI Derwen College DS0000020645.V338027.R01.S.doc Version 5.2 Page 27 - 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!