Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Durban House Hodgsons Road Blyth Northumberland NE24 1PN 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 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: Suzanne McKean Date: 0 9 1 0 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Durban House Hodgsons Road Blyth Northumberland NE24 1PN 01670354181 01670362236 durbanhouse@schealthcare.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mrs Ann Mielnik Type of registration: Number of places registered: Exceler Healthcare Services Limited care home 45 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 dementia 45 Over 65 0 Conditions of registration: 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 following category: Dementia Code DE, maximum number of places: 45 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 45 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Durban House is a two-storey building of traditional brick and tiled roof construction. It has a car park to the front of the building, which allows level access to the main entrance. The home is situated in a predominantly residential area with easy access to the centre of Blyth town with its shops and other public amenities. It is also on a main Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 bus route being only about one mile from the main bus terminal. The home is registered to provide care to a maximum of forty-five people with a dementia who have nursing and social care needs. The home also has a small unit registered for adults who have a dementia and also have a learning difficulty. The home provides information about the service through the service user guide and a copy of the last inspection report from The Commission for Social Care Inspection is available in the entrance to the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found:
A random inspection was undertaken on Thursday 9th October 2008. this was carried out as part of the Commission for Social Care Inspection programme of visiting good and excellent services to ensure that they are continuing to maintain their standards. During the visit we looked at the individual records of the care being given to the people living in the home. They were competed to a good standard and they were accurate and up to date. The care being given was good and the residents were observed throughout the visit to be safe. Residents spoken to, who were able to give their views were happy with the care, and visiting relatives were positive about the care that was given. A number of the residents have particularly complex needs and the staff have good strategies for assisting them in their day to day lives. Training programmes are up to date and the staff are supervised to make sure that they are skilled in the role they undertake. Complaints and concerns continue to be managed in line with the companies detailed policies and procedures. The structural changes planned by the previous manager have been completed. There is now a dividing wall to separate out what was the lounge and the large dining room into two separate areas. This means that there is now a lounge and dining room on the same side as the kitchen, and a lounge and dining room on the other side of the building. The plan was to operate these as two separate units, but this is not happening. This was planned as a way of reducing the noise and disruption to the residents. This could be particularly challenging as, when they were all in the same unit and one became distressed it could upset and agitate other residents. The way it is being operated is that, in the morning all of the residents are being brought into the area next to the kitchen to have their breakfast and afterwords they are assisted to the small lounge next to it. Staff spoken to about this said it was easier as they could then be supervised by one member of staff to allow the other staff to assist residents to get up and dressed. This means that the small lounge has to have enough chairs to accommodate all of the residents and not just the half that should be in that area. In the middle of the morning (this was 10:30 during the visit) a number of residents are then moved to the other unit. This caused some disruption as at least two were reluctant to move and were resistive and agitated. Staff said that in the evening all of the residents, who do not go to bed early, are moved into the unit away from the kitchen so that the night staff can supervise in one place. This way of operating suggests that there are insufficient staff to operate the home in the way is it set out to adequately supervise and maintain the safety of the residents. Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 8 There is currently no manager in post although the company have put in place a plan to make sure that it is adequately managed while a new manager can be recruited. The Deputy is currently acting as temporary manager. She is also being supported by the regional manager who visits the home very frequently. 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 27 18 There must be adequate numbers of staff to ensure the residents can be cared for and their safety maintained. The changes to the layout has effected the way the home is managed and the staffing levels must be reviewed to take this into account. 01/12/2008 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 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!
