Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Sandhurst Lodge 58 Ampthill Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK42 9HL one star adequate service 22/04/2009 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: Katrina Derbyshire Date: 2 3 1 0 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Sandhurst Lodge 58 Ampthill Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK42 9HL 01234352051 F/P01234352051 sandhurst_lodge@yahoo.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Dr Surinder Kumar Gulati Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : care home 10 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 10 10 10 dementia mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia physical disability Conditions of registration: Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 9 Sandhurst Lodge is a care home registered to accomodate up to 10 people whose primary care needs on admission fall within one of the following categories: old age, dementia, mental disorder (excluding learning disabilities) and physical disabilities. The home is located on a busy main road in the heart of Bedford town within close proximity to the local hospital, amenities including transport links. The accommodation
Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 Brief description of the care home is set out over three floors - accessible via a staircase and a shaft lift. All bedrooms are single occupancy and communal facilities include a small lounge and dining room on the ground floor. There is one assisted bath and one shower, which would not be accessible for people with a physical disability. There are no ensuite facilties and there is limited outside space. At the time of this visit, work was in progress to extend the home to create a further 7 bedrooms. Information about the home is available within the Statement of Purpose (SoP) and Service User Guide (SUG). Both are available within the home along with a copy of the most recent inspection report for this service. The SoP states that the fees for the home at the current time are £457.06 per week upwards. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found:
This unannounced random inspection was undertaken on the morning of 23rd October 2009 by one Regulatory Inspector. Following a random inspection on 2nd October 2009 we left an immediate requirement relating to recruitment checks for staff working in the home, the specific concerns related to references. At this inspection we looked at 6 staff files, this resulted in 5 of the staff not being able to work until specified documents had been secured. We undertook a compliance visit in relation to this immediate requirement on 13th October 2009, there was evidence that the owners were updating and improving the systems for recruitment checks. We did advise the owners on this day that there was still further work to be undertaken to ensure that all files were fully compliant in this area. We had also been supplied with information by Bedfordshire Borough Council, this was the outcome of an audit they had undertaken on staff files as part of their contract monitoring visits. The Care Quality Commission received information on 22nd October 2009, concerns were raised that staffing levels and recruitment systems may still not be sufficient at the home. In addition we were advised that there maybe a high level of noise, caused by building works being carried out in the home. The focus of this visit was to look at recruitment practises, staffing levels and noise levels in the home, we did not follow up on any previous requirements that were made at the last key inspection. Therefore those requirements showing at the end of this report are not outstanding because they have not been met by the home, but because we have yet to assess their compliance. We looked at recruitment practises relating to four staff and measured these against the requirements under the relevant regulations. In addition we looked at the area of the home where building contractors were working and spoke with the staff on duty. One person had been identified through the CRB check by Bedfordshire Borough Council as not being suitable to work in the home. Through examination of records, speaking with staff on duty and discussion with the owners it was confirmed that this person no longer worked at the home. Three staff files were examined. Two staff files had the documents needed in place, photocopies of identification cards and working status were in place, alongside references and CRB checks. The third file examined did not contain two written references. However this employee was employed at this service 11 years ago. It is acknowledged that the person was not appointed by the present owners, through discussion on the day of this inspection the owners are now going to request two written character references for this person. As advised even if the current owners did not appoint an employee they are now responsible for ensuring all staff files contain all documents in accordance with the regulations. Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 8 We looked at the staff rota that was on display in the dining area of the home. This rota showed that there were 3 staff members on duty on the early and late shift. We met the three staff on duty, through discussion they confirmed that the rota was accurate and that there are 3 staff on duty. During the inspection there was no noise heard from the building contractors on site. Staff advised that the final structural work had been completed on Monday 19th October 2009, there only remained plastering and decorating to be done. We were advised and shown by staff that on Monday 19th October 2009, contractors had knocked through part of a wall in the current sitting area as this will be the walk through into the new extension. When this was being done the armchairs and television were moved to the dining room so residents could sit there, this was until 4pm. 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 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 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, 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 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 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!
