Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Springfields Care Centre Springfields Care Centre 33 Springfield Road Elburton Plymouth Devon PL9 8EJ The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good 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. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed inspection. 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: Antonia Reynolds Date: 1 5 1 2 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Springfields Care Centre Springfields Care Centre 33 Springfield Road Elburton Plymouth Devon PL9 8EJ 01752482662 01752482210 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Four Seasons (DFK) Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of Four Seasons Health Care Limited) care home 85 Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 dementia mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia old age, not falling within any other category physical disability 20 20 0 10 Over 65 20 20 25 65 Conditions of registration: There will be no more than the maximum of eighty five (85) service users in the home at any time. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 Springfield Care Centre is an 85 bedded purpose built home that provides nursing and personal care to adults who suffer from physical or mental health problems in separate units. There are presently 20 registered nursing beds on the dementia care unit that can be used for adults or the elderly. The remaining beds are to be found in two other distinct units, one providing general nursing care, and one that provides residential (personal) care. The residential care unit is undergoing refurbishment to provide separate facilities for older people and older people who suffer from early signs of dementia. The home has a Registered Manager who has overall responsibility for the running of the home. In addition to this each unit is separately staffed and has its own unit manager. Each of the two nursing units are managed by a registered nurse, and have a registered nurse on duty 24 hours a day. The residential care unit is managed by an experienced Senior Carer who may call on the District Nurses for any nursing needs the clients might have that do not warrant placement in a nursing home bed. The units are arranged over two floors with shaft lifts between each floor. There is an enclosed garden at the rear of the home lying between the ground floor accommodation wings of the home. The homes fee structure begins at 350 Pounds rising to 500 Pounds plus the funded nursing care contribution. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found:
This inspection was unannounced and was carried out by two inspectors between 6.30am and 7.40am on Monday, 15th December 2008. Following the visit to the home the Registered Manager was spoken with on the telephone. The reason for the visit was that the Commission for Social Care Inspection had been informed that people who live in the home were being made to get up early; that some people were put into recliner chairs that they could not get out of, to prevent them from walking around; and that there was not enough bedding to keep people warm during the night. During the inspection we found eleven people who were up and about, either in their own bedrooms or in the lounge/smoking rooms. Two people were dozing in chairs in one of the lounges but staff said they had been up for quite a long time during the night. Those people who were able to comment said that they were happy to be up early in the morning. Staff confirmed that people could choose the time they get up in the morning and that no-one is expected to get up early if they do not wish to do so. Some people required personal care in the early morning and staff said they carry out the required task but people remain in bed if they wish to and this was observed during the inspection. Those bedrooms inspected contained a variety of bedding that included duvets, blankets, bedspreads and sheets. One person only had sheets on the bed but her hands were very warm and she appeared to be comfortable. The staff on duty said this was her preferred option for bedding and she would become very distressed if they tried to put blankets or a duvet on the bed. The bedrooms where people were still asleep or receiving personal care were not inspected. One person was sitting in a reclining wheelchair, but was wide awake, and discussion with the manager of that area of the home confirmed that this person is not able to walk, therefore needs to be in that particular type of chair. During the inspection a person was lying in bed with a pillow under the mattress and staff said this was to make sure the person did not fall out of bed. Also, in one area of the home, a radio was playing rather loudly in the hallway at 6.45am and it was not clear that this was the choice of the people who live in the home. The Registered Manager agreed to look into this issue. Discussion with the staff team confirmed that there are enough staff on duty to meet the early morning needs of the people who live there and there is no reason for people to have to get up early if they do not wish to. When we arrived at the home the fire alarm panel in the entrance foyer showed a fault. Discussion with the Registered Manager, on the telephone, confirmed that there is nothing wrong with the fire alarm system but the panel continues to show a fault. This is being dealt with by the company the home uses to service its fire safety equipment. What the care home does well: What they could do better:
Care Homes for Older People
Page 4 of 8 People who live in the home should be offered a hot drink as they soon as they get up in the morning, or at a time of their choice. The use of a pillow under a mattress to keep someone from falling out of bed should be reviewed and properly risk assessed. If needed suitable equipment should be provided to keep the person safe from risk of harm or accident. 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 requirements were set at the last inspection. They may not have been looked at during this inspection, as a random inspection is short and focussed. The registered person must take the necessary action to comply with these requirements within the timescales set.
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, 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 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 8 The use of a pillow under a mattress to keep someone from falling out of bed should be reviewed and properly risk assessed. If needed suitable equipment should be provided to keep the person safe from risk of harm or accident. People who live in the home should be offered a hot drink as they soon as they get up in the morning, or at a time of their choice. 2 15 Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 8 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report CSCI 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: 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. 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 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!
