Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Sandhurst Lodge 58 Ampthill Road Bedford Bedfordshire MK42 9HL zero star poor service 01/12/2009 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: Rachel Geary Date: 2 9 0 4 2 0 1 0 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 1 1 2 2 0 0 9 Sandhurst Lodge is a care home registered to accommodate 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, and amenities including transport links. The
Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 12 Brief description of the care home accommodation 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 lounge/diner on the ground floor. At the time of this inspection, two vacant rooms were being used to provide additional communal space - a quiet room and an activity room. At the time of this visit, work was still in progress to extend the home to create a further 7-8 bedrooms - all with ensuite facilities. Bedrooms in the older part of the home do not have ensuite facilities. A new enclosed garden/sitting area has been created to the side of the property. 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 SUG 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 12 What we found:
A random inspection of Sandhurst Lodge was carried out on 29th April 2010. The purpose of the inspection was to assess compliance against some of the requirements that we made at our last key inspection of this service on 1st April 2010. In our 1st April 2010 report we included concerns about the lack of up to date records regarding monies and valuables being managed on behalf of someone living at the home. Because this was not the first time that we had had concerns about the management of peoples finances (see also our 22nd April 2009 report), we made a safeguarding (SOVA) referral after the inspection to Bedford Borough Council. The Council has a safeguarding role in respect of this service. Prior to this inspection we received information from the Council which confirmed that our concerns in respect of the home were unfounded; although the home had been asked to make it clear who the appointee for peoples benefits were on each persons file in the future. In our 1st April 2010 report we wrote: The manager confirmed that no new staff had been taken on since our last key inspection in December. However, rotas indicated that family members of the provider were now working some care shifts. There was little or no evidence of recruitment/vetting checks for the family members. We left an immediate requirement about recruitment checks during a random inspection of the service in October 2009. This had been complied with at the time, so it was disappointing to see that standards had slipped again. We were given verbal assurance at the end of the inspection that this deficit would be remedied quickly. Part of the purpose of this inspection was to try to establish if appropriate recruitment and vetting checks were now in place for family members of the provider who were working in the home. We confirmed again with the manager that no other new staff had been employed since our 1st December key inspection. Although there was evidence of some of the required documents and checks being place, there was also some that was still missing. This included a CRB (criminal record disclosure) check for one person, no references for another and where references had been obtained; no information to say in what capacity the referee had known the person they were providing a reference for. Other required information that was missing was employment history information; so we were not able to establish if people had worked with vulnerable adults in the past. There was also no information about one persons physical and mental health. Rotas that were seen, showed us that at least one of the family members had been working in the home, providing care. So we left another immediate requirement about the homes recruitment practices. The manager told us at the time of the inspection that the family members would not work at the home until all the required documentation was in place. We also received a letter from the provider to this effect on 30th April 2010. Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 12 However, the same letter also stated that the recruitment procedure for the home is now more robust; so we are not clear if the provider has understood the seriousness of the situation, and his legal responsibilities to ensure people living in the home are safeguarded by the homes recruitment practices. Following our 1st April 2010 key inspection, we wrote: There was evidence that there has been a change of provider for the home from Dr Surinder Kumar Gulati to Care Guru Ltd. There was no evidence that Care Guru Ltd has applied to the CQC for registration, or that you (Dr Gulati) have applied to have your provider registration cancelled. The concerns are that the home is being carried on by an unregistered provider. As well as this being an offence under the Care Standards Act 2000 and associated regulations, the insurance arrangements for the home (including legal liability cover) may be at risk. You must write to the CQC (by 17.4.10) and confirm if/when an application to cancel your registration, and an application for a change of registered provider, has been submitted to the CQC. You must also provide confirmation that there are adequate insurance arrangements in place for the home given the current situation. This verification must be provided by the insurance company in question. A further reason for this inspection therefore was to try to establish the validity of the homes insurance arrangements to ensure that people living in the home were adequately protected. Prior to this inspection, we had received a copy of the homes insurance certificate which recorded the policy holder as being Careguru Ltd. We were concerned that the insurance company did not know that Careguru was not registered with the Commission, and wanted clarification about whether or not this would invalidate the homes insurance cover. During this inspection, the manager told us that they had received verbal confirmation that the insurance arrangements for the home were valid but that they were still waiting for written confirmation. Despite attempts made during the inspection, we did not manage to get confirmation that the existing insurance arrangements were valid by the end of the inspection. After the inspection we updated Bedford Borough Council, who were already aware of the situation. We then received a copy of an insurance certificate in the name of Dr S K Gulati Sandhurst Lodge. What the care home does well: What they could do better:
In our 1st April 2010 key inspection report for this home, we said: that (the home) had
Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 12 failed to respond swiftly to contractual arrangements and regulatory requirements which had resulted in a significant amount of intervention from us and the Council. We reminded the registered provider that he needed to be fully aware of his legal responsibilities as registered provider and warned that if things did not improve, we would consider taking enforcement action. Despite some improvements being found during this inspection, we still have a number of concerns about the way the registered provider is carrying on the home...(the amount of) intervention raises serious questions about the fitness of the registered provider. Findings from this inspection have not helped to alleviate our concerns, and we are currently taking further advice regarding possible enforcement options. 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 6 of 12 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes R No £ 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 1 18 17 Up to date records for all 19/04/2010 monies and valuables managed on behalf of people living at the home must be maintained and available at all times - to include any bank accounts and all incoming and outgoing payments. To ensure that service users monies and financial interests are safeguarded. 2 29 19 People must not be allowed 19/04/2010 to work at the care home unless full and satisfactory information is available for each of the matters specified in Schedule 2 of the care home regulations 2001, before they start working in the home. To ensure that people living in the home are protected and not placed at risk by the homes recruitment policy and practices. 3 31 7 There was evidence that 17/04/2010 there has been a change of provider for the home from Dr Surinder Kumar Gulati to Care Guru Ltd. There was no evidence that Care Guru Ltd
Page 7 of 12 Care Homes for Older People 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 has applied to the CQC for registration, or that you have applied to have your provider registration cancelled. The concerns are that the home is being carried on by an unregistered provider. As well as this being an offence under the Care Standards Act 2000 and associated regulations, the insurance arrangements for the home (including legal liability cover) may be at risk. You must write to the CQC and confirm if/when an application to cancel your registration, and an application for a change of registered provider, has been submitted to the CQC. You must also provide confirmation that there are adequate insurance arrangements in place for the home given the current situation. This verification must be provided by the insurance company in question. To clarify who is carrying on the home and that there are clear lines of accountability in place. 4 34 25 There are concerns that the 19/04/2010 home may not be financially viable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives as set out in its Statement of Purpose. Under the provisions of the Care
Page 8 of 12 Care Homes for Older People 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 Standards Act 2000 and associated regulations, you must provide the CQC with the following: The annual accounts for the care home certified by an accountant. These must include everything included in regulation 25 (3) (b) of the Care Homes Regulations 2001. A reference from your bank expressing an opinion as to your financial standing as the current registered provider for the home. Information as to the financing and financial resources of the care home. A certificate of insurance for the (current) registered provider in respect of liability which may be incurred by him in relation to the care home in respect of death, injury, public liability, damage or loss. To ensure people living in the home are safeguarded by the accounting and financial procedures of the home. 5 34 25 The homes business and 19/01/2010 financial plan for this, and the next financial year, must be provided to the Commission. To satisfy us that the home is financially viable for the purpose of achieving the aims and objectives as set out in its Statement of
Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 12 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 Purpose. Care Homes for Older People Page 10 of 12 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 1 19 The recruitment and vetting documents and checks as specified in Schedule 2 (revised) of the Care Homes Regulations 2001, must be obtained prior to anyone working in the care home who may in the course of their duties, have regular contact with people living in the home. To ensure that people klliving in the home are safeguarded by the homes recruitmnet practices. 29/04/2010 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 11 of 12 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. © Care Quality Commission 2010 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any format or medium for noncommercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. The source should be acknowledged, by showing the publication title and © Care Quality Commission 2010. Care Homes for Older People Page 12 of 12 - 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!
