Inspection on 02/10/06 for Stanley House

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 issues mentioned in these next three sections of the report were the items inspected on this visit to the Home. The Registered Provider and Manager had ensured that a completed statement of purpose and Residents Guide was in place, and all new Residents moving to the Home were appropriately assessed. Good records of care were maintained, as were the health care needs of the Residents, although some improvements were needed. Satisfactory records were also maintained of the distribution of medication. Two Residents were interviewed during this inspection, and they were most complimentary of staff, saying that their care needs were always well met. The Manager provided a satisfactory complaints procedure, and ensured that a good Safe Guarding Adults procedure operated within the Home. The Home was also maintained to a good physical standard throughout. A good level of staffing was also provided within the Home, so Residents were cared for appropriately. All Residents had been provided with a risk assessment to help in determining their safety. All accidents, injuries and incidents of illness or communicable diseases were recorded and reported to the relevant government bodies. The Registered Providers had also ensured that fire safety notices were posted in relevant places around the Home.

What has improved since the last inspection?

The Manager had improved the administration of medication. The damaged and scuffed doors and skirting boards in Residents bedrooms had been repainted. Fire alarm testing had been improved and was now carried out on a regular basis.

What the care home could do better:

The Manager needed to improve her recording procedure when a Doctor required an alteration to the medication given to a Resident. It was also recommended to the Manager that a Medidose or Nomad system of distributing medication to Residents be introduced. Various recommendations were made to the Manager to improve the care offered to Residents. The Manager`s record of complaints included all written complaints, but did not include verbal complaints. As most complaints were made verbally this needed improvement. The Registered Providers and Manager needed to ensure they were aware of the procedure for referring a member of staff (ex-member of staff) to the Vulnerable Adults register. A broken washbasin needed urgent repair. Various other recommendations were made to improve the facilities provided within the Home. The Registered Providers and Manager were recommended to limit staff to working approximately 8 hours each day and/or 40 hour a week. The Registered Providers and Manager needed to ensure that they and new staff satisfied the required Regulations when appointing new staff to the Home. They were also encouraged to ensure that at least 50% of care staff held at least an NVQ level 2 in Care. The Manager was encouraged to begin her training to obtain a qualification of NVQ level 4 in Management. The Registered Providers needed to provide written details of their monthly inspections of the Home. Quality Assurance procedures needed to be improved, as did staff training.