Inspection on 04/03/09 for Smythe House

This inspection was carried out on 4th March 2009.

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

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.

Other inspections for this house

Smythe House 31/08/06

Similar services:

Hillside

Applegarth

122 Scorer Street

Jubilee Villa Care Home

Thornham Grove

Beech Lodge

8 Thorndale Road (Homefield College)

Hunter`s Lodge

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 28/03/2010.

Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for adults (18-65 years) Name: Address: Smythe House 72 St Peters Avenue Kettering Northants NN16 0HB three star excellent service The quality rating for this care home is: 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: Catherine Perrins Date: 1 7 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. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: 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 Adults (18-65 years) 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. Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright © (20092008) 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.csci.org.uk Internet address Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Smythe House 72 St Peters Avenue Kettering Northants NN16 0HB 01536520528 01536523643 kathrynclarke@btconnect.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Consensus Support Services Ltd care home 7 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 7 3 0 0 learning disability mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia Additional conditions: No person falling within the category of MD, Mental disorder excluding Learning Disability or Dementia, may be admitted to Smythe House, unless that person also falls within the category LD, Learning Disability ie. Dual Disability The maximum number of persons to be accommodated within Smythe House is 7 Date of last inspection 3 1 0 8 2 0 0 6 A bit about the care home Seven people live at Smythe House. They all have ‘Prader Willi syndrome.’ Everybody who lives at the home has their own bedroom. The home is close the shops and bus station in Kettering. 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: three star excellent service Choice of home Individual needs and choices Lifestyle Personal and healthcare support Concerns, complaints and protection Environment Staffing Conduct and management of the home How we did our inspection: This is what the Inspector did when they were at the home The inspector did not tell the home that she was coming. The Inspector talked to all the people who live at the home. The inspector looked at some of the policies and procedures in the office. Policies are rules about how to do things. Procedures tell people how to follow the rules. The inspector looked at some care plans too. What the care home does well Care plans are very detailed. People lead very full and active lives. People have good support with their health needs. People know how to complain if they wish to. Staff are given very good training to help them do their jobs well. What has got better from the last inspection The people who live at the home are involved in choosing new staff. Care plans have been improved. What the care home could do better The home should look at how medication is stored. If you want to speak to the inspector please contact Catherine Perrins Eastern Regional Contact Team CPC1 Capital Park Fulbourn Cambridge CB21 5XE Tel: 01223 771300 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.csci.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk or by telephoning our order line - 0870 240 7535 Details of our findings Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 5) Individual needs and choices (standards 6-10) Lifestyle (standards 11 - 17) Personal and healthcare support (standards 18 - 21) Concerns, complaints and protection (standards 22 - 23) Environment (standards 24 - 30) Staffing (standards 31 - 36) Conduct and management of the home (standards 37 - 43) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection 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, what they hope for and want to achieve, and the support they need. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, and people close to them, can visit the home and get full, clear, accurate and up to date information. 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 the person 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 excellent quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People who may want to move to the home have their needs fully assessed and are given good information about the home so that they can make sure that it is the right move for them. Evidence: The home has a detailed statement of purpose and service user guide. These give good information about the home and the services it offers. The service user guide is written in plain English so that it is more accessible to people with a learning disability. Before they decide whether they want to move to Smythe House people are able to visit and have a meal or overnight stay. Records show that peoples needs are fully assessed before they move in to make sure that the home is right for them. One person told us in a survey we sent them I think it was the right place for me. When they move in they are given a contract to sign, this details the terms and conditions of their stay. Staff complete a new resident checklist to make sure that the admission process is well managed. Records show that people have a case summary which is signed by all staff and gives information about the persons history and needs on admission. Individual needs and choices 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 needs and goals are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. People are able to make decisions about their life, including their finances, with support if they need it. This is because the staff promote their rights and choices. People are supported to take risks to enable them to stay independent. This is because the staff have appropriate information on which to base decisions. People are asked about, and are involved in, all aspects of life in the home. This is because the manager and staff offer them opportunities to participate in the day to day running of the home and enable them to influence key decisions. People are confident that the home handles information about them appropriately. This is because the home has clear policies and procedures that staff follow. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience excellent quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Peoples individual needs are very well met and their choices, preferences and autonomy are respected. Evidence: Each person who lives at Smythe House has an individual plan of care that contains the information that staff need to support and care for people in the right way. Individual plans of care seen were very comprehensive and covered all aspects of the persons life including their health and personal care needs, communication, education, cultural and spiritual needs and social activities. Each individual plan of care was very specific to the individual and contained a lot of detail and peoples preferences such as how they wish to be supported with their personal care, what their hobbies and interests are and their food likes and dislikes. People are made aware of what the home expects of them in terms of their conduct as each person has a conduct agreement that they have signed. Individual plans of care also included details of the goals that people are currently working toward. These goals are linked into peoples care plans to make sure that they receive support to achieve their goals. People with prader willi syndrome have some specific needs. These are detailed in their individual plan of care with any risks to their health and welfare being fully assessed. Any restrictions placed on people, such as restricted access to food, have been assessed as being in their best interests and are clearly documented. Evidence: Records show that care plans and assessments are reviewed and updated regularly. People have a review with their key worker where they can discuss their care plans and goals. Where people had identified things that they would like to achieve there was evidence that the home had supported them with this. Each person also has a person centred plan that they have put together with the help of their support staff. These contain photographs and pictures and give a good insight into each persons personality and what is important in their life. Records show that people are given assistance with their money as required and supported to budget for larger items such as holidays. Lifestyle 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 can take part in activities that are appropriate to their age and culture and 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 and the home supports them to have appropriate personal, family and sexual relationships. People are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. Their dignity and rights are respected in their daily life. People have healthy, well-presented meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. People have opportunities to develop their social, emotional, communication and independent living skills. This is because the staff support their personal development. People choose and participate in suitable leisure activities. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience excellent quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People lead active and fulfilling lives both within the home and within their community. Evidence: People who live at Smythe House lead very full and active lives. They are encouraged to take regular exercise such as going to the gym, swimming, walking and bike rides. People enjoy various leisure activities such as pottery, gardening, pub trips, gateway club, snooker, bowling and golf. People are also encouraged to pursue their education by attending various college courses and to have work placements. People explained that they are involved in the running of the home and have a rota for household duties. People told us that they enjoy going on holiday every year and are looking forward to going to Devon this year. People said that they enjoy regular visits from family and friends. Each person has details in their individual plan of care of special dates, such as birthdays of family members and friends, so that they can be reminded to send cards and presents if they wish to. People told us that they enjoy having weekly coffee mornings where they can invite friends around for coffee and partners evenings where they can invite their partners around to watch a DVD or listen to music. Lunch on the day of inspection was noodles with spiced prawns and vegetables with Evidence: apple crumble and custard for pudding. The food was very well presented and people were seen enjoying their meal. People told us that the food was “very good”. The cook said that she has same training as the support staff so has good understanding of the needs of people with prader willi syndrome. The cook explained that she has a list of peoples likes and dislikes and can easily cater for their preferences. The menu for the week was viewed and looked very varied with a good range of fresh fruit and vegetables. Personal and healthcare support 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 receive personal support from staff in the way they prefer and want. Their physical and emotional health needs are met because the home has procedures in place that staff follow. If people 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. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them to 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 excellent 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 health and personal care needs will be fully met. Evidence: Peoples individual plans of care contain detailed information about their personal and health care needs. Records show that people have involvement from a range of health and social care practitioners such as clinical psychologists, general practitioners, specialist nurses, opticians, dentists and podiatrists. Individual plans of care included details of how people were supported to maintain good health by, for example, having the option of flu vaccination, having their weight and body mass index monitored and having any specific health conditions, such as diabetes, well managed. One person had been given information about diabetes in easy read form with pictures to help explain the main points. People with prader willi syndrome can have some specific health needs. Details of these are clearly recorded in their individual plans of care along with information about how these needs should be met. The local hospital has been given information to help them understand peoples needs should anyone be admitted or have to visit hospital. The administration of medication is generally well managed. The majority of medication prescribed is dispensed in sealed dose blister packs. The home has a protocol that any medication not in blister packs has to signed for in a separate book as well as on the medication administration record, this ensures that all medication can be accounted for. No-one at the home is currently prescribed any controlled drugs but the home do need to review their medication storage facility to ensure that they are able to store controlled drugs safely should anyone be prescribed them in the future and to ensure compliance with the latest guidance from the Royal Pharmaceutical Evidence: Society of Great Britain. Controlled drugs are prescribed medicines which some people abuse them by taking them when they have not been prescribed. There are laws and regulations about how these drugs should be stored and administered. Concerns, 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. Their concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse, neglect and self-harm and takes action to follow up any allegations. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience excellent quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The policies, procedures and practices within the home ensure that the people who live there are safe and protected from harm. Evidence: The home has a complaints procedure which is available written in plain English with pictures to make the information easier to understand. The home also has an audio copy for anyone who would prefer to access the information that way. People spoken knew how to raise concerns and this was apparent by the three complaints on record that the home has received from people living at Smythe House. All three complaints were resolved quickly to the satisfaction of all involved. People told us that they were able to contact their social worker or an advocate if they remained unhappy after speaking to staff and the manager at the home. Details of the Prader Willi Association advocacy scheme was on the notice board in the dining room. Staff were aware of how to raise any concerns that they may have and have completed training on how to keep people safe from harm. 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, comfortable, 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. People have enough privacy when using toilets and bathrooms. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience excellent quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People enjoy clean, comfortable and spacious living accommodation that is decorated and furnished to a high standard. Evidence: Smythe House is a three storey Victorian property close to the centre of Kettering. Communal areas consist of a large lounge and large dining room. The property is clean and well maintained throughout with all of the furniture and decor being to a high standard. Pictures, ornaments and co-ordinating soft furnishings add to the homely atmosphere. There are also many photographs on display of the people who live at the home. There are seven single bedrooms all with an en suite shower room. Bedrooms seen had been made personal with pictures, posters and personal belongings. People told us that they chose their bedding and the decor for their bedrooms. Everybody has a key to their own bedroom so that they can keep it locked if they wish to. The property has a small laundry room with one washing machine and dryer. Staff explained that this was not always sufficient and that the manager had requested a second washing machine. People told us that they contributed to the running of the home and had a rota for household tasks such as dusting and vacuuming. 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, qualified 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. People’s needs are met and they are supported because staff get the right training, supervision and support they need from their managers. People are supported by an effective staff team who understand and do what is expected of them. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience excellent quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People are supported by competent and well trained staff who work in the best interests of the people who live at the home. Evidence: A local general practitioner described the staff as extremely helpful.....very respectful of residents wishes and try to maintain autonomy. Staff recruitment appears to be managed well. Records show that staff have all of the necessary pre recruitment checks to ensure that they are suitable to work with people with learning disabilities. New staff undergo a comprehensive induction which includes spending two weeks completing training courses such as moving and handling, first aid, health and safety and prader willi syndrome. This is followed by a further two weeks spent working alongside an experienced colleague. Staff then have an ongoing programme of training to make sure that they have the knowledge and skills to support people in the right way. One staff member told us that the training is very good, cannot fault it. The deputy manager explained that the home hold staff meetings every month to give staff the opportunity to discuss any issues about how the home is supporting the people who live there. The home uses a bank of relief staff if their are any shortfalls on the staff rota due to sickness or leave. All of the relief staff have attended the same induction and training as the regular staff so can ensure that the people who live at the home receive consistent support. Staff complete a daily checklist every morning and afternoon to ensure that all of the essentials tasks for the day are completed. Evidence: One person told us in a survey we sent them that “the staff are always available when you need some help.” Conduct and management of the 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 have confidence in the care home because it is run and managed appropriately. People’s opinions are central to how the home develops and reviews their practice, as the home has appropriate ways of making sure they continue to get things right. The environment is safe for people and staff because 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. They are safeguarded because the home follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and makes sure staff understand the way things should be done. 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 well managed ensuring that people receive the care and support that they require. Evidence: The registered manager for the home is currently on maternity leave and a manager from another home owned by the same provider is managing the home on a temporary basis. Staff told us that they were generally happy with this arrangement and that they felt well supported by the rest of the staff team and the service. The people who live at Smythe House are supported to meet on a monthly basis to discuss the running of the home. This gives people the opportunity to have their say about how the home is being managed. The home also asks people to complete an annual questionnaire to gauge their satisfaction with the service. The results of questionnaires issued to staff and people who live at the home by the Commission for Social Care Inspection show that people are generally very happy with how the home is run. Records show that fire checks and other health and safety checks have been carried out to make sure that the home is safe and free from any hazards. The home is audited every year by an external health and safety consultant. Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes  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, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 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 Description 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 Description 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 1 20 The storage of medication should be reviewed to ensure that it complies with the latest requirements of the Misuse of Drugs Act Amendment 2007. This is necessary to ensure that all medication, including controlled drugs can be stored safely. Helpline: Telephone: 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323 Textphone : 0845 015 2255 or 0191 233 3588 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.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. 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