Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Ferncross 4 Crossdale Avenue Cross Cop Heysham, Morecambe Lancashire LA3 1PE one star adequate service 16/04/2009 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: Stephanie West Date: 0 1 0 7 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Ferncross 4 Crossdale Avenue Cross Cop Heysham, Morecambe Lancashire LA3 1PE 01524850008 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) : Draycombe House Care Ltd care home 15 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 4 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 11 0 The home may accommodate eleven service users in the dementia (DE) category and four named service users in the category of old age (OP). All further admissions to the home must be of the dementia (DE) category. No more than fifteen service users may be accommodated in the home at any one time. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Ferncross is situated in Heysham and is a home for older people who have a dementia. The home can accommodate a maximum of fifteen people in mainly single bedrooms. A double bedroom is available. The bedrooms are located on the ground and first floor. A passenger lift gives access to the first floor for those who require it. There are 2
Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 1 6 0 4 2 0 0 9 Brief description of the care home lounges and a separate dining room. There is also a well-maintained garden where the people can sit/walk in safety. The current fees for receiving care at this home are 390 to 425 pounds per week according to the assessed needs of the individual. Draycombe House Care Ltd owns the home and Mrs Ann Withers one of the Directors of the company manages the home on a day to day basis. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found:
This visit was carried out to look at the homes medication arrangements to see how concerns identified at the previous visit had been addressed. Other areas and requirements were not examined on this occasion. The visit lasted approximately two hours and involved discussing the handling of medication with the manager and examination of medicine records and storage arrangements. At the end of the inspection feedback was given to the manager. We found that action was being taken to address concerns about the handling of medicines identified at our previous visit. We found that medicines record keeping had improved making it possible to account for (track) the safe handling of medicines in the home. Photographs were used to help ensure the positive identification of residents when administering medicines, some were missing but this was being addressed by the manager. Medicines policies provided generally clear guidance to staff in the handling of medicines at the home but needed to be updated to reflect changes to the law about handling Controlled Drugs. The home did not currently handle any Controlled Drugs, but as previously identified arrangements will need to be made to ensure they can be safely handled should any be prescribed. Arrangements were in place for the use of homely remedies. This enables people to have treatment for some minor ailments without needing to see the doctor. Staff handling medication have completed a medicines training course, but it was of concern that this was wholly offered and assessed in house. To ensure information is kept up-to-date it is important that sources of external training are regularly accessed and used in addition to a supporting in-house programme. Records showing the administration of medication were generally up-to-date but there were some areas that could be improved to ensure the clarity and accuracy of these records. Where medicines were not given records sometimes showed o - other without further detail about why doses had been missed. Records of communication with healthcare professionals such as G.Ps were generally clearly made but the home did not always seek prompt written confirmation of these instructions. This is important to reduce the risk of errors. Additional written information for staff was available about the use of when required medicines but this could be personalized to reflect individual needs. There was no list of sample staff signatures to identify who was responsible for administering medicines. Most administration records were pre-printed by the pharmacist but where handwritten entries were made these were not always signed and countersigned. This is recommended to help reduce the risk of errors. Records for the receipt and disposal of medication were generally clear and accurate but there were some medicines awaiting safe disposal and other unwanted medicines in the medicines storage. Arrangements should be made to ensure these are promptly sent for safe disposal. Where medicines are in dispensed containers pharmacist advice needs to be sought about how long they should be kept if not used straight away. We saw that in-house audits (written checks) of medication handling were completed but these could be broader to help ensure that where, for example, changes are made these are fully implemented. This is recommended to help ensure medicines are safely
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 handled and that should any weaknesses arise, they will quickly addressed. 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 9 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes R 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, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 1 7 15 Care plans must contain a 31/05/2009 full picture of residents care needs. This is so that carers have enough information to provide the care that people need. 2 8 13 The risks to people in areas such as falling or developing pressure sores must be assessed and a plan put in place to reduce the risks identified. This is to help ensure that people are kept safe. 31/05/2009 3 9 13 Appropriate storage for controlled drugs must be provided at the home. This is to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of people who live and work at the home. 14/07/2009 4 9 13 Appropriate storage for medicines requiring refrigeration must be provided at the home. This is to help ensure residents safety and wellbeing. 14/07/2009 Care Homes for Older People Page 6 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, 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 9 13 Verbal changes to peoples 07/08/2009 medicines must be promptly followed-up and confirmed in writing to help ensure medicines are safely administered as prescribed 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 9 Handwritten entries on the medication administration record should be signed and countersigned to reduce the risk of errors. A combination of up-to-date external medicines training and in-house assessment should be used to help ensure staff competency in the safe handling of medication. Advice should be sought from the supplying pharmacist about how long medicines in dispensed containers (including Monitored Dosage Systems) should be kept if not used straight away. A sample signature list of staff authorized to administer Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 9 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 medicines should be maintained. Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 9 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 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: 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 Older People Page 9 of 9 - 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!
