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Inspection on 08/02/06 for Smyth House Residential Home

Also see our care home review for Smyth House Residential Home for more information

This inspection was carried out on 8th February 2006.

CSCI has not published a star rating for this report, though using similar criteria we estimate that the report is Good. The way we rate inspection reports is consistent for all houses, though please be aware that this may be different from an official CSCI judgement.

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.

What the care home does well

The residents are cared for by staff who have been there some time, so that residents know them well. Staff are also very familiar with how residents like to be cared for, and how they prefer to spend their time. Most residents choose to use the lounge during the day, rather than stay in their room, which encourages social activities and interest for residents. However those who decide to spend time in their rooms are free to do so, and are monitored by the staff. Staff are encouraged to spend time with the residents, talking and listening to them, which creates a friendly and homely atmosphere. The home is well served by its local GP practice, which ensures rapid attention for sick residents.

What has improved since the last inspection?

Five staff have now completed an externally assessed course in the safe handling of medication.

What the care home could do better:

There are no requirements or recommendations from this inspection. The planned extension will be subject to registration by the Commission.

CARE HOMES FOR OLDER PEOPLE Smyth House Residential Home 106 High Street Leiston Suffolk IP16 4BZ Lead Inspector John Goodship Unannounced Inspection 8th February 2006 14:30p X10015.doc Version 1.40 Page 1 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 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection Report CSCI General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the express permission of CSCI www.csci.org.uk Internet address Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 2 This is a report of an inspection to assess whether services are meeting the needs of people who use them. The legal basis for conducting inspections is the Care Standards Act 2000 and the relevant National Minimum Standards for this establishment are those for Care Homes for Older People. They can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or obtained from The Stationery Office (TSO) PO Box 29, St Crispins, Duke Street, Norwich, NR3 1GN. Tel: 0870 600 5522. Online ordering: www.tso.co.uk/bookshop This report is a public document. Extracts may not be used or reproduced without the prior permission of the Commission for Social Care Inspection. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 3 SERVICE INFORMATION Name of service Smyth House Residential Home Address 106 High Street Leiston Suffolk IP16 4BZ Telephone number Fax number Email address Provider Web address Name of registered provider(s)/company (if applicable) Name of registered manager (if applicable) Type of registration No. of places registered (if applicable) 01728 831373 Mr Peter Michael Mayhew Mrs Tracy Dawn Emsden Care Home 9 Category(ies) of Old age, not falling within any other category registration, with number (9) of places Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 4 SERVICE INFORMATION Conditions of registration: Date of last inspection 6th July 2005 Brief Description of the Service: Smyth House is a private residential care Home providing care and accommodation since 1995. The Home is registered under the Provisions of the Care Standards Act 2000 to accommodate 9 older persons. Located on the main road in the town of Leiston, Smyth House is close to all the amenities, with a regular bus service.The Home is semi-detached with a restaurant one side and an unmade road on the other side. Level access to the Home is via the side or rear entrance as there is one step to the front entrance. The Home is on three levels and access to the upper floors is by stair lifts. The accommodation comprises seven single and one shared bedroom. Two bedrooms have en-suite facilities and one bedroom on the ground floor benefits with an en-suite shower and toilet. There is one communal bathroom and five toilets within the Home. The lounge and dining room are located on the ground floor and are to the centre of the Home with a conservatory at the rear, which leads out to the garden area. The garden is laid to lawn with a vegetable patch and a summer house.Car parking is available opposite the Home.A major extension is planned for the rear of the property. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 5 SUMMARY This is an overview of what the inspector found during the inspection. This was an unannounced inspection, following the announced inspection in July 2005. The manager was present throughout the visit. There were 8 residents of whom one was in hospital. A person was shortly to be assessed to check if they were suitable to fill the one vacancy. The inspector spoke to two visitors, and several residents, either in their room or in the lounge. Over the two inspections, all national minimum standards have been assessed and all are met. What the service does well: What has improved since the last inspection? What they could do better: There are no requirements or recommendations from this inspection. The planned extension will be subject to registration by the Commission. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 6 Please contact the provider for advice of actions taken in response to this inspection. The report of this inspection is available from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by contacting your local CSCI office. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 7 DETAILS OF INSPECTOR 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) Scoring of Outcomes Statutory Requirements Identified During the Inspection Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 8 Choice of Home The intended outcomes for Standards 1 – 6 are: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Prospective service users have the information they need to make an informed choice about where to live. Each service user has a written contract/ statement of terms and conditions with the home. No service user moves into the home without having had his/her needs assessed and been assured that these will be met. Service users and their representatives know that the home they enter will meet their needs. Prospective service users and their relatives and friends have an opportunity to visit and assess the quality, facilities and suitability of the home. Service users assessed and referred solely for intermediate care are helped to maximise their independence and return home. The Commission considers Standards 3 and 6 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 1,2,3. Information is available to enable prospective residents to determine if the home will meet their needs. Residents will not be admitted without a proper assessment of their needs. EVIDENCE: The statement of purpose and the service users’ guide contained all the items of information required by the national minimum standards. The service users’ guide also included a sample copy of the form of Agreement which is signed with residents. A copy of the service users’ guide was placed in the hall so that visitors could read it. The statement of purpose had been updated to show the Level 4 qualification obtained by the manager. Admission assessment policies were confirmed by inspection of the care plan of the most recent admission. The manager described a potential admission to the home who was currently in hospital. The manager was going to assess this person later that week to determine their suitability to fill the one vacancy. The home does not offer intermediate care. This standard is not applicable. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 9 Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 10 Health and Personal Care The intended outcomes for Standards 7 – 11 are: 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. The service user’s health, personal and social care needs are set out in an individual plan of care. Service users’ health care needs are fully met. Service users, where appropriate, are responsible for their own medication, and are protected by the home’s policies and procedures for dealing with medicines. Service users feel they are treated with respect and their right to privacy is upheld. Service users are assured that at the time of their death, staff will treat them and their family with care, sensitivity and respect. The Commission considers Standards 7, 8, 9 and 10 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 7,9,11. Residents’ care plans are comprehensive to ensure that their needs are identified and to monitor how they are being met. Residents’ safety is ensured by the proper training given to staff in handling medication. Residents can expect their wishes at the time of their death to be recorded and followed. EVIDENCE: The care plan of the most recently admitted resident was examined. The format used by the home now was clear and comprehensive. It was straightforward for staff to use. This plan was complete and up-to-date. It recorded that there had been a review by all parties including the social worker two months after admission, to confirm that the home was able to meet the person’s needs. The resident had initially been reluctant to move out of their house, but said they now liked being in the home, especially as they knew another resident who had been a neighbour. The manager and four other members of staff had completed the college course on “The Safe Handling of Drugs”. Other staff were planned to Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 11 undertake the course. This training programme replaced the in-house training previously given by the manager, and provided a comprehensive and accredited distance learning course. The policy of the home was to continue to care for each resident in the home during illness or when nearing death, unless medical needs required transfer to a hospital. The manager stressed that the home received excellent support from the local surgery and one GP in particular. That GP would advise the home when a transfer was needed. Relatives were always encouraged to visit, and if necessary could stay at critical moments. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 12 Daily Life and Social Activities The intended outcomes for Standards 12 - 15 are: 12. 13. 14. 15. Service users find the lifestyle experienced in the home matches their expectations and preferences, and satisfies their social, cultural, religious and recreational interests and needs. Service users maintain contact with family/ friends/ representatives and the local community as they wish. Service users are helped to exercise choice and control over their lives. Service users receive a wholesome appealing balanced diet in pleasing surroundings at times convenient to them. The Commission considers all of the above key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 12,13. Residents can expect that their interests and preferences will be identified and met as far as possible. Visitors are encouraged and residents can maintain their preferred links locally. EVIDENCE: There is a close link with the local church, and a volunteer visits regularly to talk to residents. This person was invited to the last residents’ meeting because of these links. Several residents had very local connections and received visits from friends and relatives. Four residents were sitting in the lounge. The TV was on but quietly. Two visitors were also there. Two residents were knitting. Later, after the visitors had left, staff came in to the lounge and chatted with the residents. One resident said: I like it here. There is plenty of food. They explained how they liked to go to their room about six o’clock, but they did not get into bed until about nine o’clock. This resident was still hoping they might be able to return home to live with their relative. However the manager explained that the relative was not fit enough to care for them, but she was arranging for this person to visit their home to see the relative. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 13 The inspector spoke to the two visitors who regularly came to the home. They clearly had a good relationship with the manager and staff. They said how pleased they were with the care of the relative. The resident themselves later said they liked living at the home. One resident who was in their room during the inspection said that they usually came up to their room in the afternoon to write letters and watch their TV. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 14 Complaints and Protection The intended outcomes for Standards 16 - 18 are: 16. 17. 18. Service users and their relatives and friends are confident that their complaints will be listened to, taken seriously and acted upon. Service users’ legal rights are protected. Service users are protected from abuse. The Commission considers Standards 16 and 18 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 16,17. Residents can expect any complaint to be dealt with swiftly and according to best practice. Residents can expect their legal rights to be protected. EVIDENCE: Neither the home nor the Commission had received a complaint about the home in the last twelve months. The process for making a complaint was described in the home’s literature. All residents were entered on the electoral roll at the relevant date. The manager said that all those who wished to vote, did so by post. If residents needed an advocate, their allocated social worker acted in that capacity. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 15 Environment The intended outcomes for Standards 19 – 26 are: 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. Service users live in a safe, well-maintained environment. Service users have access to safe and comfortable indoor and outdoor communal facilities. Service users have sufficient and suitable lavatories and washing facilities. Service users have the specialist equipment they require to maximise their independence. Service users’ own rooms suit their needs. Service users live in safe, comfortable bedrooms with their own possessions around them. Service users live in safe, comfortable surroundings. The home is clean, pleasant and hygienic. The Commission considers Standards 19 and 26 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 19,22,24,26 Residents can expect to live in a safe, hygienic and comfortable environment that is well-maintained, with a policy of timely furniture and furnishing replacement. Specialist equipment is available for safe moving and handling for the protection of residents and staff. EVIDENCE: The environmental standards, which were all met at the last inspection, continued to be met. A planned extension had not yet started, as planning approval for the addition of a lift was being sought but the manager had prepared an initial risk assessment and contingency plan for the safety of the residents during the building. The one empty room was going to be fitted with new furniture before reoccupation. The manager also said that a new carpet would be fitted to the shared room. One of the occupants of this room was currently in hospital. A Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 16 new hoist had recently been bought mainly to assist with the moving and handling of this resident. A tour of the home showed that it was clean and hygienic. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 17 Staffing The intended outcomes for Standards 27 – 30 are: 27. 28. 29. 30. Service users’ needs are met by the numbers and skill mix of staff. Service users are in safe hands at all times. Service users are supported and protected by the home’s recruitment policy and practices. Staff are trained and competent to do their jobs. The Commission consider all the above are key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 28,30 Residents are cared for by competent staff whose training is kept up–to-date, to ensure that residents are in safe hands. EVIDENCE: Four staff had achieved NVQ Level 2 and above, and 4 more were starting NVQ Level 2 with the support of locally-accessed training grants. Therefore the minimum level of care staff with NVQ was met. The manager, a senior carer and the cook had recently attended a seminar on the new Food Safety Regulations. Recruitment practices met the Standard. No new member of staff had been appointed since the previous inspection in July 2005. This showed that the home had a stable workforce, who were well known to the residents. This contributed significantly to the comfort and happiness of the residents. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 18 Management and Administration The intended outcomes for Standards 31 – 38 are: 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. Service users live in a home which is run and managed by a person who is fit to be in charge, of good character and able to discharge his or her responsibilities fully. Service users benefit from the ethos, leadership and management approach of the home. The home is run in the best interests of service users. Service users are safeguarded by the accounting and financial procedures of the home. Service users’ financial interests are safeguarded. Staff are appropriately supervised. Service users’ rights and best interests are safeguarded by the home’s record keeping, policies and procedures. The health, safety and welfare of service users and staff are promoted and protected. The Commission considers Standards 31, 33, 35 and 38 the key standards to be inspected at least once during a 12 month period. JUDGEMENT – we looked at outcomes for the following standard(s): 32 Residents benefit from the way the home is run and managed which provides them with a homely and safe place to live. EVIDENCE: The manager continued to ensure that the home remained a friendly place with a family ethos. This was evident from the interaction between staff and residents. Long serving staff meant that residents were supported by welltrained and knowledgeable carers in whom residents had confidence. Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 19 SCORING OF OUTCOMES This page summarises the assessment of the extent to which the National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People have been met and uses the following scale. The scale ranges from: 4 Standard Exceeded 2 Standard Almost Met (Commendable) (Minor Shortfalls) 3 Standard Met 1 Standard Not Met (No Shortfalls) (Major Shortfalls) “X” in the standard met box denotes standard not assessed on this occasion “N/A” in the standard met box denotes standard not applicable CHOICE OF HOME Standard No Score 1 2 3 4 5 6 ENVIRONMENT Standard No Score 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 3 3 3 X X X HEALTH AND PERSONAL CARE Standard No Score 7 3 8 X 9 3 10 X 11 3 DAILY LIFE AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES Standard No Score 12 3 13 3 14 X 15 X COMPLAINTS AND PROTECTION Standard No Score 16 3 17 3 18 X 3 X X 3 X 3 X 3 STAFFING Standard No Score 27 X 28 3 29 X 30 3 MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Standard No 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Score X 3 X X X X X X Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 20 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? NO STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS This section sets out the actions, which must be taken so that the registered person/s meets the Care Standards Act 2000, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. The Registered Provider(s) must comply with the given timescales. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action RECOMMENDATIONS These recommendations relate to National Minimum Standards and are seen as good practice for the Registered Provider/s to consider carrying out. No. Refer to Standard Good Practice Recommendations Smyth House Residential Home DS0000024489.V281812.R01.S.doc Version 5.1 Page 21 Commission for Social Care Inspection Suffolk Area Office St Vincent House Cutler Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 1UQ National Enquiry Line: 0845 015 0120 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.org.uk © This report is copyright Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and may only be used in its entirety. 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