Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Lowfield House Railway View Road Clitheroe Lancashire BB7 2HA The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good 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: Christine Mulcahy Date: 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Lowfield House Railway View Road Clitheroe Lancashire BB7 2HA 01200428514 01200444365 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Mr Peter John Hitchen care home 24 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 old age, not falling within any other category 0 Over 65 24 Conditions of registration: Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Lowfield House is registered with the Commission for Social Care Inspection to provide care and accommodation to 24 older people. The home is situated in the centre of Clitheroe giving the people who use the service good access to community facilities. Sainsbury?s supermarket, public transport and the train station are within easy access of the home. The property is detached and set in its own grounds. All bedrooms are single and have a door lock. Most are en-suite and some are situated on the ground floor of the home. There are a number of shared and communal areas throughout the home including the dining room and lounge. Access to the first floor is via a passenger lift. There is ample parking to the front of the building and this overlooks a wellmaintained garden. The people who use the service and their relatives receive a copy of the homes information guide and have access to the Statement of Purpose. Fees are Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 #350 per week and residents are billed separately for hairdressing, newspapers and magazines. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found:
The registered manager and team of care workers ensure that prospective residents always receive a thorough needs assessment before moving into the home. People using the service receive an agreed contact and this contains clear information about the fees and charges they have to pay. The manager explaines the contents of the contract to try to help them understand the information. The care plans of two people using the service was examined and information included in the plan was up to date and person centred. Information written in each plan was clear and detailed, describing how the care should deliver the care. The care plans seen had been reviewed regularly to reflect the changing needs of the resident and contained risk assessments to prevent or minimise the risk of harm or injury to the resident. Details about health care including GP, dental and optician contact were also recorded in the care plan. The manager ensures people using the service are treated with fairness equality and respect and this is central to the care they provide. All residents have access to the homes shared activity plan that reflects the diverse needs and interests of the residents. The plan included a Christmas visit from the Salvation Army band, an musician entertainer, members of the Clergy, Physiotherapist and in house board games. Brief discussion with a person using the service confirmed that she was satisfied with the service and support she was getting at the home. She told us, Im very happy here I have everything I need. The homes complaints and protection procedures are clear and uncomplicated. Two other residents when asked said they knew how to complain and who to talk to if they were unhappy about any aspect of life at the home. There have been no complaints about the service made to CSCI since the last main visit to the home. The physical environment meets the particular lifestyle and needs of the people who use the service, the home is clean, homely, safe, comfortable and well maintained. All bedrooms are single and well designed and some are en suite and there is a selection of communal areas for people to use if they need privacy when relatives visit. The staff team have been recruited following robust pre employment checks. Out of 20 care workers 60 of the care staff team are now fully trained in safeguarding and would know how to respond if they suspected abuse. This means that people using the service will be better protected due to the increased staff knowledge in this area. 80 are trained up to NVQ level 2 in Care, 40 are trained in Health and Safety and 40 are trained in drug awareness and can administer medication at the home. The manager has developed a staff training plan that shows what training has been done and what training is required. She said that the service has further training planned for later this year so that all staff can be trained in the required areas. The registered manager has the required experience, is competent to run the home and to meet the homes aims and objectives. She demonstrates a clear sense of Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 8 direction always putting the residents needs first and applies best practice in the way the home is run and managed providing a good role model for other employees. The manager ensures that staff follow the policies and procedures of the home, receive required training to meet the residents needs and ensures safe working practices at all times. There are clearly written records of all safety checks, accidents and complaints and good evidence of the homes compliance with statutory requirements and legislation. Reliable systems are in place to support the manager in running the service and in February this year the home gained the Investors In People Award, a quality assurance award, that means the home has showed they can do their job properly to offer a good standard of service to the residents. The homes robust policies and procedures ensure there are safe working practices that protect the well being of the people who use the service. 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 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 © (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. 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!
