Random inspection report
Care homes for adults (18-65 years)
Name: Address: Elm House 201 Waterloo Road Cobridge Stoke-on-trent Staffordshire ST6 2HS two star good 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 review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed review of the service. 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: Wendy Jones Date: 0 6 1 1 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Elm House 201 Waterloo Road Cobridge Stoke-on-trent Staffordshire ST6 2HS 01782201837 01782201837 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) : LDCG Limited care home 12 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 learning disability Conditions of registration: 12 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 12 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: Learning disability (LD) 12 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Elm House is a large Victorian building on three floors. It is located on a busy road which connects the towns of Hanley and Burslem. There is good access to both via a main bus route. There are also local services within easy walking distance, and a large entertainment complex including a swimming pool, and a multi screen cinema within a mile of the home. The surrounding area is heavily populated, and since its inception, Elm House has fitted in well with the local community. It is registered care for 12
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 10 Brief description of the care home adults with learning disability. Accommodation is in 10 single rooms, and one shared room. There is a walk in shower on the ground floor and two WCs together with the shared bedroom and one single bedroom. The first floor has two bathrooms, one of which is assisted, and seven further single bedrooms. There is also a separate WC. The second floor has domestic bathrooms/WC, and the remaining two single bedrooms. Communal space comprises of a large lounge/dining room, and a large lounge, which is the designated smoking area within the home. The house has a large garden at the rear that contains adequate seating for use in good weather. People using the service are able to take ownership of various areas of the garden. The ethos of this house is to provide a safe and secure living environment where a persons abilities/individualities can be maximised through a wide range of educational, recreational and social opportunities. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 10 What we found:
We visited the service to undertake a random inspection visit on the 6 November 2009. We made a decision to visit the service following a recent history of concerns about the service and how it is being managed, concerns about the providers decision to serve notice to people using the service and close the home, concerns about the safety of service users while at the home. And also because a safeguarding referral has been made to the Local Authority. We found that the provider has installed an interim manager in post because the registered manager has resigned. We spoke to her during this visit, to the provider, to staff and people using the service. We found that two people have been moved from their bedrooms to accommodate building work. One person has since moved back into his room on the 2nd floor. The other person continues to be accommodated in another bedroom, it is not possible for him move back into his original bedroom because of the stage the building works are at. We found that the provider had not consulted properly with the funding authority nor could we find evidence that individuals had been supported by advocates when they agreed to the move from the rooms. There is no evidence that consideration has been given to assessments of the mental capacity of individuals. We found that a bathing facility on the first floor has been removed and an alternative bathroom on the same floor is not usable. This is unsatisfactory as people living on this floor now have to use the shower facility on the ground floor. And at least two people are known to prefer to bathe. The interim manager has confirmed that she had asked workmen to replace the current bath so that it is usable. We found that building materials are being secured when not in use, so that people are not at risk. We have been made aware of concerns about this prior to this visit and have contacted the local Environmental Health Officer who carried out a visit, and made requirements that the builders ensure that tools are securely stored while the building work is being carried out and when not in use. We spoke to people using the service about the decision to close the home. We found that there are mixed views and levels of understanding about the decision and their future. We asked if the provider had served notice formally and in writing to each person and have been told this has taken place, we have been provided with a copy of a letter, but people using the service were not sure if they had one. The interim manager stated that they had, and the previous manager and provider had spoken to them about it. We found that people using the service do not appear to have been involved in regular meetings to discuss the service, their lives and the support they receive. The records show a meeting dated 24/11/08. We found evidence of poor standards of staff training and most mandatory training is out of date. The provider has arranged some training updates for this month. We found that staff havent received regular supervision or been involved in regular staff meetings until recently.
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 10 We looked at how medication is managed in the home, and found areas that should be improved. There is no proper stock control system in place, this means an accurate audit of stock cannot be undertaken. One of the cupboards used for storing medication is not suitable and must be changed. We talked to the interim manager about the practise of secondary dispensing, there is no policy/procedure in place. What the care home does well: What they could do better:
The provider has agreed to to refrain from moving people using the service from their bedrooms to accommodate the progress of the building work. The provider must provide suitable bathing facilities on the first floor of the home. The provider must ensure that staff receive mandatory training. The provider must provide suitable medication storage facilities and the arrangements for the stock control and management of medication must be improved. We looked at records of the providers monthly visit to the home to assess the performance of the service. There are some gaps but the most recent are kept in the service. The service should ensure that people using the service have the opportunity to discuss their needs and be involved with decisions affecting their lives. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 10 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 6 of 10 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R 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, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 10 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, 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 17 12 The provider must ensure that people are safe in the home. By ensuring that they are not at risk from the on going building work. 28/11/2009 2 20 13 The provider must provide suitable medication storage, To be sure that medication is properly and safely stored. 06/01/2010 3 29 23 The provide must ensure 28/11/2009 that suitable bathing facilities are provided. So that people using the service have a bath on the first floor. 4 35 18 The provider must ensure that staff have received mandatory training. So that people using the service know that staff have the skills they need to deliver good quality care. 28/11/2009 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 10 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 7 The service should ensure that people using the service have opportunities to meet to discuss their lives, to be sure that they are involved in any decisions that are made. The service should ensure that people and their supporters, ie advocates and the funding authorities are consulted about major changes in the home. The service should introduce a proper stock control system, so that an audit of medication in the home can be carried out. The service should produce a procedure for secondary dispensing to be sure that staff are doing this safely. The service should ensure that staff receive regular supervision sessions, to discuss their development needs and care practice. 2 7 3 20 4 5 20 36 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 9 of 10 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report Care Quality Commission 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: 03000 616161 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.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) Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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 CQC copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 10 of 10 - 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!
