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Inspection on 10/09/09 for Old Court Barn

Also see our care home review for Old Court Barn for more information

This inspection was carried out on 10th September 2009.

It is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Excellent.

The inspector made no statutory requirements on the home as a result of this inspection and there were no outstanding actions from the previous inspection report.

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

Annual service review Name of Service: Old Court Barn 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 review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.   Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?   No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Jean Littler Date of this annual service review: 0 5 0 8 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: Lumber Lane Lugwardine Hereford Herefordshire HR1 4AQ 01432851260 01432853158 oldcourtbarn@hotmail.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Mr Steven Richard Dodds (trading as `The Barns`) Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 7 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 7 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) 7 Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service Old Court Barn is owned and operated as the sole concern of The Barns. The Home offers a personal care service to seven younger adults with severe learning disabilities, some of whom have Autism. The Home is situated on a quiet country lane in the village of Lugwardine three miles from the City of Hereford. The Home is set in pleasant grounds. The accommodation is divided into the main house that has three single and one double bedroom with communal rooms and an adjoining area with two Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 single bedrooms and its own communal facilities. The provider has written information about the service that can be sent out to interested parties. The inspection reports are available in the Home for visitors to see. The current fee range is between seven hundred and one thousand seven hundred pounds per week dependent on each individuals assessed needs. Additional charges are made for personal items such as clothes and toiletries, personal services such as chiropody and haircuts. Residents pay a contribution towards the cost of holidays and their mobility allowance goes towards the cost of providing the two vehicles. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 7 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review: What did we do for this annual service review? We, the Commission, looked at all the information that we have received, since the last annual service review which was complete on 07/06/2008. This included:The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA). This is a self-assessment form that enables the manager to demonstrate how well desired outcomes for the people using the service are being met, it also gives us some numerical information about the service; The previous key inspection carried out on 08/08/2007; What the manager, Mrs Dodds, has told us about things that have happened in the service, these are called notifications and are a legal requirement. What has this told us about the service? The AQAA was very detailed and gave us clear information about what the service does well, what has been improved in the last year and what the plans for the future are. Examples of areas that have been improved in the last year were reported on. We have hired the Hereford Leisure pool with two lifeguards; people have been accessing the Houghton Project, which is based within a 200 acre working farm in Bodenham; the residents have been involved in cheese making, milking a goat and looking after the many animals at the farm; trampolining sessions; playing Pool at a local pub; people have been supported to use public transport more often; and a successful holiday in Pembrokeshire; the senior in charge has been promoted to Deputy Manager; the two other senior staff have had training in supervision and can now supervise their colleagues; we have a full staff team; we are using a skill checking system as a training tool; eight of the twelve care staff have a care qualification and most of the team have completed the Learning Disability Qualification. Future plans that will benefit the residents were included in several areas. Improve certain areas of the garden i.e. the seating area by the top shed and install a garden water feature; deal with less essential maintenance more promptly; splitting the shared bedroom; reorganise certain areas instead of going forward with an extension. Mrs Dodds said in the AQAA that no complaints had been received. One safeguarding matter was discussed by the local authority when Mrs Dodds was concerned about one residents behaviour towards others and she wanted an independent view of the arrangements and psychology input. We have not received any complaints. The AQAA showed that all policies have been reviewed in 2009. The management team has remained stable. There have been five staff changes, which could be unsettling for the residents. The resident group has remained unchanged. Three medication errors have occurred in the last year that we were correctly notified of. Mrs Dodds reported, We continue to ensure procedures are carried out correctly by carrying out competency sessions and observations. No medication error is acceptable, however, the recent errors have been minor ones. Actions are carried out after each error to try and improve our medication procedures and limit the number of errors. We Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 always follow procedures and report under Regulation 37. Four people living in the home completed surveys with the help of their keyworkers. All were very positive. Positive comments were included about the food and activities. One person said they would like to have their own bedroom and he hopes the plans to provide this do happen. Mrs Dodds reported that the planned extension has been put on hold due to the low fee increase provided by the main funding authority this year and the general financial climate. Seven staff gave feedback in surveys which was overall very positive, comments included, The service gives people a good selection of activities to do throughout the week. We provide a good home for the residents. There is excellent staff training, the manager treats staff well and the residents needs are met. They all have good activity plans and there is good communication. I have received tremendous support during my employment and been able to reach my potential. This is a happy place to work. Things run smoothly and there is good communication. The residents are great individuals. The only recommendation was made by three staff who felt an extra member of staff at weekends would enable people, who do not like going out in groups, to go out alone with a worker. Mrs Dodds gave feedback that one weekend a month people visit their families and on another there is an extra member of staff. Additional staff can also be made available on other weekends if plans have been made for a specific activity. She said she will remind staff of this to ensure they are aware. Seven relatives gave feedback that was unanimously positive. Comments included, The service is always open to my suggestions to ensure my son receives the affectionate care for his needs. I am always well informed of his activities, his good days as well as the not so good ones. I am included in planning his care so we all work consistently. I feel it is an excellent placement and he is supported well. I find them caring, welcoming when I visit. Our son has a full life, daily activities, good food, a comfortable home that is not institutional. He visits us monthly which works well. In our opinion the service is outstanding. We are always pleased with the care and he has an excellent range of activities and is supported to participate within his ability. My sons needs are looked after to a high standard and I have every confidence in their approach. One of the residents GPs reported, Staff liaise with the surgery well, communicate effectively with residents and organise medication well. A consultant psychiatrist reported, The staff seem committed to good practice, seek guidance in a timely manner, are courteous and respectful of clients families. A communication therapist reported, The service offers a homely environment, stimulating activities, welcomes outside agencies and visitors. Ensures each person is treated with respect and endeavours to provide individuals with their chosen lifestyle. There is consistent staffing presumably due to good working conditions. A speech and language therapist reported, Good management and appropriately trained and supported staff. A nice friendly welcoming atmosphere. A Riding For The Disabled instructor reported, The general care, support and encouragement given by all staff to the clients is outstanding. The evidence continues to indicate that people living in the home are being appropriately supported in the way they need and prefer and are benefiting from the Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 ethos of the service. After considering all the information our judgement is that the home is still providing an excellent service. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan. We will do a key inspection by 8th August 2010. However, we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of the people using the service. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Annual service review CQC General Public 0870 240 7535 (national contact centre) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. The content of which can be found on our website. 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 copy of the findings 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. Annual Service Review Page 7 of 7 - 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!