Inspection on 19/03/09 for Piper Court

This inspection was carried out on 19th March 2009.

CSCI found this care home to be providing an Adequate service.

The inspector found no outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report, but made 2 statutory requirements (actions the home must comply with) as a result of this inspection.

Other inspections for this house

Piper Court 12/01/10

Piper Court 28/03/08

Similar services:

Turret Villa Retirement Home

Moor House

Mendip House

Beaconsfield Court Care Home

Little Sisters Of The Poor

Manor House

Middleton Hall Ltd

Middlesbrough Intermediate Care Centre

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 07/08/2009.

Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Piper Court Sycamore Way Stockton-on-Tees TS19 8FR     The quality rating for this care home is:   one star adequate 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. Lead inspector: Susan Lowther     Date: 1 9 0 3 2 0 0 9 This is a report of an inspection where we looked at how well this care home is meeting the needs of people who use it. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better. We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area. Outcome area (for example Choice of home) These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. that people have said are important to them: They reflect the things This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection. This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor. Evidence: This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement. Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought 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 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to: • • • • Put the people who use social care first Improve services and stamp out bad practice Be an expert voice on social care Practise what we preach in our own organisation Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 27 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) 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. www.cqc.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 27 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Piper Court Sycamore Way Stockton-on-Tees TS19 8FR 01642606512 01642605503 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Southern Cross BC OpCo Ltd Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mrs Valerie Tunney Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia old age, not falling within any other category Additional conditions: The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 60 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care Home with Nursing - Code N To service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the Home are within the following categories: Old Age, not falling within any other category, Code OP - maximum number of places 60 Mental Disorder excluding learning disability or dementia, Code MD, maximum number of places 10 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Piper Court is a modern, purpose built facility that is registered to provide personal and nursing care to sixty older people. The home is divided into three units. On the ground floor of the home there is a twenty-eight bedded unit that Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 27 care home 60 Over 65 0 60 10 0 Brief description of the care home accommodates people requiring personal care. On the first floor of the home there is a twenty-two bedded unit that accommodates people requiring nursing and personal care and also a ten bedded mental health unit. Each unit has separate lounge areas, a dining room, toilets and bathing facilities. Bedrooms are single in nature and meet the required amount of space, all have ensuite facilities, which comprise of a toilet and hand wash facilities. The home is situated close to North Tees Hospital and other local amenities. Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 27 Summary This is an overview of what we found during the inspection. The quality rating for this care home is: Our judgement for each outcome: one star adequate service Choice of home Health and personal care Daily life and social activities Complaints and protection Environment Staffing Management and administration peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: The quality rating for this service is 1 star. This means the people who use this service experience adequate quality outcomes. This unannounced inspection took place on 19th March 2009. Time was spent reviewing records, speaking to members of staff, the people who live in the home, visitors to the home and to the acting manager. The company supplied some information prior to the inspection on a form called an AQAA. This is an annual quality assurance assessment for the agency to provide information about their service. Information was also received from people who use the service and their relatives. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 27 The inspection focused on key standard outcomes for people using the service and to check whether the requirements and recommendations from the previous inspection had been met. We have reviewed our practice when making requirements, to improve national consistency. Some requirements from previous inspection reports may have been deleted or carried forward into this report as recommendations but only when it is considered that people who use services are not being put at significant risk of harm. In future, if a requirement is repeated, it is likely that enforcement action will be taken. The fees charged at the time of this inspection were between four hundred and twenty pound and five hundred and twenty three pounds per week. This does not include the cost of hairdressing, chiropody, newspapers and toiletries. What the care home does well: What has improved since the last inspection? What they could do better: The activity programme should remain under review so that as far as possible suitable activities are provided for all of the people who live in the home. All staff should receive regular update training in adult protection to safeguard the people who live in the home. A review of communal toilets should take place to make sure that there are sufficient handrails and that the access is suitable for all of the people who live in the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 27 Staff should be trained in infection control to ensure safe practice within the home. The manager must make an application to be registered with the CSCI/CQC. The registered person must ensure that all staff receive fire training at regular intervals. All staff should be trained in health and safety to maintain safe practice. It is recommended that staff have an update in moving and handling on a yearly basis. 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 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.cqc.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@cqc.org.uk or by telephoning our order line –0870 240 7535. Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 27 Details of our findings Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 6) Health and personal care (standards 7 - 11) Daily life and social activities (standards 12 - 15) Complaints and protection (standards 16 - 18) Environment (standards 19 - 26) Staffing (standards 27 - 30) Management and administration (standards 31 - 38) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 10 of 27 Choice of home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them and the support they need. People who stay at the home only for intermediate care, have a clear assessment that includes a plan on what they hope for and want to achieve when they return home. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, or people close to them, have been able to visit the home and have got full, clear, accurate and up to date information about the home. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between them and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Sufficient information is available for people to decide whether they would like to live in the home. Assessment procedures are in place to ensure that the home can meet all of the needs of the people who go to live there. Evidence: People are only admitted after a full assessment of need is carried out by an appropriately trained person. This is usually the manager. This is to make sure that the home can meet the care needs of the people who go to live there. Since the last inspection the assessments of people admitted to the mental health unit have been developed and now contain sufficient information. The family of one person who had recently gone to live in the home confirmed that they had looked around the home and had been supplied with all of the information they needed to make a decision about whether or not their relative would like to live there. Three of the people who returned surveys indicated that they had received sufficient information before they were Care Homes for Older People Page 11 of 27 Evidence: admitted to the home. One person had been admitted as an emergency but confirmed that they had been given all of the information they required. The home does not admit people for intermediate care therefore assessment of standard 6 is not required. Care Homes for Older People Page 12 of 27 Health and personal care These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People’s health, personal and social care needs are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. If they take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it, in a safe way. People’s right to privacy is respected and the support they get from staff is given in a way that maintains their dignity. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Good systems are in place to ensure that health care needs of the people who live in the home are met. Evidence: The manager said that all of the people who live in the home have care plans so that staff know how to look after people on an individual basis. Four were examined during the inspection. These were in the main comprehensive and contained individual plans of care. Some of those examined on the mental health unit have been developed to contain detail of what impact their mental health problem has on their life and what triggers a problem. This was identified in the last report. The manager said that this is an ongoing process and the plans are under constant review. This is to make sure that staff meet all of the needs of the people who live in the home. People spoken to during the inspection said that they are happy with the care received and the level of information given. All of the people who returned surveys responded that they always get the care and support that they need. Care Homes for Older People Page 13 of 27 Evidence: Records examined showed that people receive visits from other healthcare professionals. These include district nurses, doctors, and care managers. One of the healthcare professionals who returned a survey said, The service has improved greatly over recent weeks. Medication is administered by qualified nurses or people who have been appropriately trained. The home has a comprehensive medication policy. Accurate records of all medicines received, administered and those leaving the home are maintained. People spoken to said that staff always treat them with dignity and respect. Care Homes for Older People Page 14 of 27 Daily life and social activities These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives. They are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. People have nutritious and attractive meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The activities are varied and provide recreation for some of the people living in the home. Family and friends can visit the home at any time and are made to feel welcome. The meals are of a good standard. Menus are varied and people are given a choice. Evidence: Most of the people said that activities are suitable. Three people who returned surveys indicated that they are usually suitable although one person indicated that they were not. Regular activities include quizzes, chair exercises, board games and arts and crafts. Outside entertainers visit on a regular basis and a church service is held once per month. People are also taken out on a regular basis to places of interest such as museums and touring coastal routes. The activity programme should remain under review so that as far as possible suitable activities are provided for all of the people who live in the home. Relatives said that they could visit at any time and that they are always made welcome. People said that they have a choice about how they like to spend their day. They can also choose what time to get up and go to bed and when they would like to Care Homes for Older People Page 15 of 27 Evidence: have a shower or bath. The lunch looked nice. Staff who were helping people were doing this in a discreet and dignified manner. Evidence was seen in care plans to confirm that nutritional needs are assessed and other professionals consulted if required. The last inspection report contained a requirement that they address the areas requiring action following a food safety inspection in 2007. The home have been re inspected and received a five star award. Care Homes for Older People Page 16 of 27 Complaints and protection These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them know how to complain. Any concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse and neglect and takes action to follow up any allegations. People’s legal rights are protected, including being able to vote in elections. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People can be confident that their concerns and complaints are dealt with appropriately. Although safeguards are in place to protect people from abuse, some staff require updated training in this area. Evidence: Information about complaints, how and who to make them to, is made available to the people who live in the home and their families through information displayed in the entrance to the home and in the Service Users Guide. There have been eight complaints recorded since the last inspection. All of these were investigated by the home. The records seen with regard to these investigations demonstrated that people were kept informed and were given feedback with regard to the final outcome. The home had a comprehensive adult protection procedure. This gives staff the support they need to make a referral should this be required. The staff spoken to during the inspection were asked about abuse and what they would do if they saw or heard anything inappropriate. All said that they would tell someone, for example the manager, or make a referral themselves if this was more appropriate. One memeber of staff said, I would have no hesitation in telling someone if I saw or heard something which I felt was not right. We are here to look after and protect the people who live here. Care Homes for Older People Page 17 of 27 Evidence: Training is provided for staff in adult protection. However it is recommended that all staff should receive regular update training in adult protection to protect the people who live in the home. Adult protection referrals made within the last twelve months have been appropriately dealt with by the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 18 of 27 Environment These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, pleasant and hygienic. People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The home is clean and well maintained. It is decorated and furnished to a good standard and provides a homely environment for the people who live there. Evidence: During a tour of the building the inspector saw that many of the rooms are decorated to the persons own taste and there was evidence to confirm that people can take in some personal items when they go to live there. This includes pieces of furniture as well as photographs and ornaments. A high standard of decor and furniture is provided throughout the home. There was a range of equipment seen around the home to support people with bathing and mobility. However one person who returned a survey felt that there should be more handrails available in the communal toilets and that access to some could be problematic. A review of these areas should be undertaken to make sure that they are suitable for all of the people who live in the home. The inspector found the building to be clean, tidy and free from offensive odours. Care Homes for Older People Page 19 of 27 Staffing These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable to care for them. Their needs are met and they are cared for by staff who get the relevant training and support from their managers. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Staff are appropriately recruited and in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the people who live in the home. Some staff require training updates in safeguarding, moving and handling, infection control and fire safety. Evidence: From the rota supplied at the inspection there was sufficient care staff on duty to meet the assessed care needs of the people who were using the service. People said that staff were usually around and answered the call bells quickly. One person said, The staff come quickly when I need them. The home had staff files in place, which provided evidence that the appointment of a new staff member is in the main made through proper recruitment processes. This includes the vetting of staff through the use of references, POVA first checks and Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks. The manager supplied the inspector with information about recent training. Over 50 of the staff having an NVQ at level 2 or above, and several more are enrolled on the course. Some mandatory training has taken place. However it is recommended that staff have an update in moving and handling on a yearly basis. The last inspection report required that all new staff complete the Skills for Care Induction Programme. Care Homes for Older People Page 20 of 27 Evidence: The manager confirmed that all new staff receive this training. Care Homes for Older People Page 21 of 27 Management and administration These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have confidence in the care home because it is led and managed appropriately. People control their own money and choose how they spend it. If they or someone close to them cannot manage their money, it is managed by the care home in their best interests. The environment is safe for people and staff because appropriate health and safety practices are carried out. People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. The people staying at the home are safeguarded because it follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and ensures their staff understand the way things should be done. They get the right care because the staff are supervised and supported by their managers. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Quality assurance monitoring systems are in place to ensure that the home is run in the best interest of the people who use the service. However some staff have not received training in some aspects of health and safety which potentially places people at risk. Evidence: Since the last inspection a new manager has been appointed. She is a qualified nurse, holds an appropriate management qualification and has several years experience in managing a care home. She is aware that she must make an application to be registered. There was evidence in staff files to show that supervision was taking place and that the staff were being appraised. Staff confirmed that supervision takes place on a regular basis and that they are well supported. Care Homes for Older People Page 22 of 27 Evidence: People living at the home and visitors who were spoken to during the inspection confirmed that the manager is approachable and that they would go to her if they had any concerns. Staff also confirmed this to be the case. Regular meetings are held and there are a number of systems in place to consult with people living at the home. Relatives and the people who live in the home can approach the staff at any time. The manager carries out regular audits covering all environmental and care aspects which may result in improvements being made. Personal finances are kept in the home for people who request this. Signatures are obtained and receipts are kept to ensure peoples financial interests are safeguarded. The manager confirmed that all equipment in the home is regularly checked. The maintenance certificates that were seen at this inspection were found to be in order. Health and Safety checks are carried out regularly to safeguard people living and working at the home. The manager confirmed that water temperatures are now checked weekly as recommended in the last report. However some staff have not received training in health and safety which potentially places people at risk. Care Homes for Older People Page 23 of 27 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, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 24 of 27 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 1 31 9 The manager must make an application to be registered with the CSCI/CQC. To comply with the Regulations and to make sure that people are safe. 31/08/2009 2 38 23 The registered person must ensure that all staff receive fire training at regular intervals. To make sure that people are safe. 31/07/2009 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 12 The activity programme should remain under review so that as far as possible suitable activities are provided for all of the people who live in the home. All staff should receive regular update training in adult protection to safeguard the people who live in the home. A review of communal toilets should take place to make Page 25 of 27 2 3 18 21 Care Homes for Older People sure that there are sufficient handrails and that the access is suitable for all of the people who live in the home. 4 5 6 30 38 38 Staff should be trained in infection control to ensure safe practice within the home. All staff should be trained in health and safety to maintain safe practice. It is recommended that staff have an update in moving and handling on a yearly basis. Care Homes for Older People Page 26 of 27 Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 or Textphone: or 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) 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 27 of 27 - 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!