Inspection on 08/01/09 for The Croft

This inspection was carried out on 8th January 2009.

CSCI found this care home to be providing an Good 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

The Croft 13/12/06

The Croft 09/03/06

The Croft 27/09/05

The Croft 29/03/05

The Croft 05/05/04

Similar services:

Chirnside House

Keer Sands Residential Home

Ruskin Lodge

Bushell House

Langrigg House

Parkside

Dystlegh Grange

Thornton Lodge

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 13/03/2009.

Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: The Croft Low Wiend Appleby Cumbria CA16 6QP     The quality rating for this care home is:   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. Lead inspector: Margaret Drury     Date: 0 8 0 1 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. the things that people have said are important to them: They reflect 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 Older People 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. Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 24 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) 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. www.csci.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 24 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: The Croft Low Wiend Appleby Cumbria CA16 6QP 01768352684 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mrs Jean Haygarth Type of registration: Number of places registered: Mrs Jean Haygarth care home 3 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 old age, not falling within any other category Additional conditions: Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home The Croft is a residential care home, owned and managed by Mrs Jean Haygarth that is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to three older people. The home is situated in the centre of Appleby, adjacent to St Lawrences Church, the health centre, local library and close to local shops and facilities. The Croft is a large period property with well-maintained grounds providing extra communal space during the summer months. Accommodation for residents is situated on the ground and first floors of the home, the upper floor being accessed by a stair lift. All the rooms are for single occupation and have en-suite toilet facilities. Mrs Haygarth, together with a small team of care staff, provides the care and support to the residents. The home does not provide waking night staff and this information is documented in the information given to the residents and their families. Service users health care needs are met by local health centre, through the doctors and district nursing service. The fees in this home are based on a financial assessment of the individual but range from Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 24 0 Over 65 3 Brief description of the care home 450.00 to 500.00 per week. There are extra charges for newspapers, hairdressing and chiropody. Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 24 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: two star good service Choice of home Health and personal care Daily life and social activities Complaints and protection Environment Staffing Management and administration peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: This site visit that forms part of an unannounced key inspection took place over one morning in January. We, The Commission for Social Care Inspection, discussed the running of the home with the manager and spoke to the staff on duty. We were able to talk to all of the people living in The Croft to ascertain their views about the care they received. Records regarding the receipt and administration of medication were checked and care plans were examined. The manager had completed an Annual Quality Assurance Assessment, and returned it within the specified time. This is a legal document completed by all regulated services that gives information about how the service meets the needs and expectations of those people using it. It also tells us what plans the service may have for the future Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 24 and how it will continue to provide care and support to those living in The Croft. What the care home does well: What has improved since the last inspection? What they could do better: 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. Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 24 Details of our 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) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 24 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 and the support they need. People who stay at the home only for intermediate care, have a clear assessment that includes a plan on what they hope for and want to achieve when they return home. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, or people close to them, have been able to visit the home and have got full, clear, accurate and up to date information about the home. 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 them 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 good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. All prospective residents are fully assessed prior to moving in.This ensures the service is able to meet all the individual needs in an appropriate way. Evidence: All prospective residents are invited to visit the home before deciding whether or not to move in. The latest resident to be admitted spent the day at The Croft where she was able to meet the staff and the other people living there. The registered manager completes a full assessment of needs prior to any prospective resident moving in. As The Croft is a small home the manager considers the needs of the other residents before she offers a permanent place. A copy of the initial assessment is kept on file as part of the care plan. Information from this assessment then forms the basis for the individual plan of care. All those using this service have a written contract with the home, a copy of which is held on file. Care Homes for Older People Page 10 of 24 Care Homes for Older People Page 11 of 24 Health and personal care 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 health, personal and social care needs are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. If they 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. People’s right to privacy is respected and the support they get from staff is given in a way that maintains their dignity. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them 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 good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Residents personal, social and healthcare needs are met by an appropriate care planning system Evidence: We were able to check all the care plans and we found these documents to be informative and up to date through monthly reviews completed by the manager. Discussions during our visit evidenced that the care staff read, and were familiar with, the information contained in each individual plan. Details of healthcare professional visits are recorded as are those of visiting dentists. We looked at the process for the recording, receipt and administration of medication and found this to be appropriate. There is not a great deal of prescribed medicaion but what there is is recorded neatly and correctly. There are currently no controlled drugs prescribed but there is a procedure in place for the administration of such medication. The local pharmacy provides all medication in a monitored dosage system. We spoke to all the residents during our visit and they confirmed that the staff treat them with the utmost care and respect. They consider their own room to be their Care Homes for Older People Page 12 of 24 Evidence: home and the manager and staff are aware of this and care for the residents accordingly. Care Homes for Older People Page 13 of 24 Daily life and social activities 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 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. They are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. People have nutritious and attractive meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. There are no additional outcomes. 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 routines in this home are varied, flexible and planned around the preferences and wishes of those living there. Evidence: The routines in this home are very flexible and as it is such a small home they are tailored around the residents needs and wishes. When speaking to those living there, they all confirmed that they spent their time in exactly the way they wanted to. Two of them remain in their own room whilst the other resident comes downstairs to the conservatory until after lunch. They all told us they loved living in The Croft because it was small and friendly. Just like living at home. The manager advised that it was difficult to organise activities as the residents liked to do their own thing, such as listening to the radio or reading the daily paper. She has bought knitting wool for one of the ladies and is encouraging her as she used to knit when she lived in her own home. Visitors and family members are welcome any time and are often invited to stay for refreshments. The Anglican minister and the Roman Catholic priest visit on a regular basis to provide Communion and Spiritual support. Care Homes for Older People Page 14 of 24 Evidence: There are good communications with family members especially those who live some distance from the home. Mealtimes are varied and flexible to meet the needs of the residents. They are usually served around the same time but this can be changed if necessary. Meals are home cooked and nutritious and the residents told us they enjoyed their food and could to exactly what they wanted. One resident told us how she had enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day and delicious lunch. She added that the manager and staff had made it just perfect. Care Homes for Older People Page 15 of 24 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. Any concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse and neglect and takes action to follow up any allegations. People’s legal rights are protected, including being able to vote in elections. 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. Those using this service know that any complaints they have would be listened to and acted upon. They are safeguarded at all times. Evidence: The home has a complaints procedure in place and the residents we spoke to knew what to do if they had any issue to raise. They all said they would speak to the owner. None of them have ever had cause to complain. There was nothing recorded in the complaints log and the Commission had never received any. We discussed adult protection with the manager and staff and they were aware of the procedure to follow. The home has a copy of the guidelines issued by Cumbria Council that is available for staff to read. They said that that would be the procedure they would follow. Care Homes for Older People Page 16 of 24 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, 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. 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. Those using this service live in a home that is warm, comfortable and fit for purpose. Evidence: The Croft is a large detached property that has been adapted for use as a care home for older people. There is one bedroom on the ground floor and two on the first floor that are accessed by a chair lift. There are sufficient bathrooms and toilets. All the rooms are for single occupancy and have en-suite toilets and wash basins. We were able to inspect the bedrooms and found them to be warm, spacious and well decorated. Discussions with the owner confirmed that all rooms are decorated when they become vacant. Other re-decoration is completed as and when needed. There are two bathrooms, both of which contain aids so that the residents can maintain their independance for as long as possible. There is a pleasant conservatory for the residents to use for sitting in and eating their meals if they wish. The home was extremely clean and hygienic on the day of our visit and residents told us that the home is always kept beautifully clean. Care Homes for Older People Page 17 of 24 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 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 to care for them. Their needs are met and they are cared for by staff who get the relevant training and support from their managers. There are no additional outcomes. 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 staff team have been correctly employed and are experienced and able to meet all the assessed needs of those living in this home. Evidence: We checked staffing levels and found these to be sufficient. There are always two members of staff on duty with the manager on call through the night. Residents and their families are advised that the home does not employ waking night staff and this information is also contained in the homes brochure. There are four members of staff who work with the manager to ensure all the assessed needs are met. They have all worked at The Croft for a number of years and discussions with those on duty confirmed that they knew the residents well. Although none have formal qualifications they all have a wealth of experience in caring for older people. Those living in the home had nothing but praise for the care and attention they received. Comments such as, the staff are so kind, the ladies cannot do enough for you and the staff are wonderful and so polite were made when we spoke to those living in the home. All staff have enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks in place and supervision takes place usually in an informal setting. Currently the manager and staff are working through the Cumbria Competance and Training manual in order to update their skills. The manual covers the core skills for Health and Social Care Support Staff. Care Homes for Older People Page 18 of 24 Care Homes for Older People Page 19 of 24 Management and administration 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 led and managed appropriately. People control their own money and choose how they spend it. If they or someone close to them cannot manage their money, it is managed by the care home in their best interests. The environment is safe for people and staff because appropriate 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. The people staying at the home are safeguarded because it follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and ensures their staff understand the way things should be done. They get the right care because the staff are supervised and supported by their managers. 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. This home is operated by an experienced, caring and competent manager who runs it in the best interests of those living there. Evidence: The manager has a very clear understanding of the needs of older people and has run this home for more than eleven years. She spends a lot of time with those who live there and ensures the service provided meets their needs and expectations. There is a very relaxed atmosphere and peole told us it was like living in their own home but without the worry. There is no personal money held on behalf of anyone as family members assist the residents with their finances. The manager keeps in touch with all the staff on a daily, though informal, basis to discuss any changes in the assessed needs. Maintenance records show that all services and equipment are maintained by service level agreements in order to ensure the safety of those living and working in The Croft. Care Homes for Older People Page 20 of 24 Care Homes for Older People Page 21 of 24 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R 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 Care Homes for Older People Page 22 of 24 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 Care Homes for Older People Page 23 of 24 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 24 of 24 - 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!