Inspection on 02/10/06 for Norton Grange

What follows are excerpts from this inspection report. For more information read the full report on the next tab.

What the care home does well

Health concerns raised in daily records are attended to and professional health care advice and assessment from doctors and district nurses are arranged if needed, which means that service users needs are addressed in a timely manner. There is a good range of social activities ensuring service users have meaningful and motivating experiences. Service users appeared well cared for with personal care needs met in a positive manner. Staff have a clear understanding of the need to protect service users from potential abuse and know what to do when they have concerns. There are good systems in place to manage complaints made and this gives service users the confidence to use procedures.Service users` finances are recorded well and an audit trail was evident for all transactions. Care plans were available to describe general daily care needs. Risk assessments were in place for service users, which means service users, are protected from unnecessary risks, to their health or wellbeing.

What has improved since the last inspection?

There has been further development of care plans to ensure similar social opportunities have been explored for those service users who cannot express their needs. This ensures those with dementia enjoy similar opportunities to their peers, creating an inclusive approach for those service users who would find it difficult to initiate activities or conversations by themselves. Monthly visits by the homes representative have improved ensuring that the service provision is monitored and the views of service users are actively sought.

What the care home could do better:

Whilst there is a regular review of service users` needs meaning that significant changes are picked up, there is little to indicate that the staff resources have been reviewed accordingly to ensure they meet with the needs of the service users. This is particularly important where individuals may be waiting for a more appropriate placement in a nursing home, this impacts on staff resources, and in order for service users to be safely cared for, the home must demonstrate that staffing levels are appropriate. The administration of medication was not in line with good practice and could put service users at risk. The manager should review staff competencies in this area to ensure better practice. This will minimise any risk to service users. The manager must ensure that staff shortages do not impact on the choices for service users at their teatime meal. There are some outstanding requirements relating to the premises, the Commission needs to be advised of proposals and the viability of these in light of future proposals for the home. Conditions of registration include minimum staffing levels, these have at this and previous inspections, not been maintained, and this could put service users at risk. The registered person must ensure that rotas are planned for the full compliment of staff, and take into account that staff levels meet with the assessed needs of the current service users, some of whom require greater levels of care and support. The staff training profile did not include training in areas of care specific to the service users. The manager must ensure that regular training is undertaken insuch areas as incontinence management, dementia, pressure care, and falls management, it is really important that staff refresh their knowledge base in these areas on a regular basis. It is important that staff regularly check the temperatures in the home to detect any fault in the heating, this will ensure that service users are kept warm and comfortable.