This inspection was carried out on 24th October 2008.
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.
Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report
Care homes for adults (18-65 years)
Name: Address: The Firs, Paignton 60 Upper Manor Road Preston Paignton Devon TQ3 2TJ 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: Michelle Finniear Date: 2 4 1 0 2 0 0 8 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: The Firs, Paignton 60 Upper Manor Road Preston Paignton Devon TQ3 2TJ 01803523191 01803523191 thefirs@havencare.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Havencare (Plymouth) care home 4 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 learning disability physical disability 4 4 Over 65 0 0 Conditions of registration: Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home The Firs provides care for up to four adults with learning disabilities and,or additional physical disabilities. The Home is a detached property with level access to local shops, amenities and public transport. Each resident has a separate flatlet with it?s own bedroom, lounge and en-suite bathroom facilities for maximum privacy. There is a large communal lounge,dining room, which has level access into an attractive enclosed garden. Also on the ground floor are an office, laundry and large kitchen. The Firs comprises a ground and first floor with stairs leading to the first floor which could be a problem for a resident with mobility problems. Fee levels were not available for this inspection. Copies of the most recent inspection report are available in the home. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 7 What we found:
Since the last Key Inspection of The Firs in 2007, there has been another smaller inspection, and a referral to the Protection of Vulnerable Adults team regarding an alleged assault on a person living at the home. An Annual service review was carried out which identified the need for another Inspection visit to the home to monitor the homes response to the above. For this Inspection we made a site visit to the home. We spoke to the people living at the home and the manager, to see what had changed since we last visited. We aslo looked around the home, looked at some of the records and policies the home keeps and looked at developments they plan to make in the future. When we visited there were three people living at the home. All of these people were following activities they wanted to do during the day. One person went out shopping, another for a drive and a walk with two staff and the third was watching a film in their room with another member of staff. A care plan was seen for one person and this included information on how the person liked to spend their time, how they communicate and things that are important to them. The care plans have been improved since the last inspection and now provide excellent, well maintained information on all of the persons support needs and how they like them to be met. The plan is available in a person centred format and looks at peoples strengths and goals not just at the help they need. The plans were being reviewed regularly. The home has a new Quality Assurance system in place which includes surveys to people who live and work at the home as well as other stakeholders. It gives the home information on what is working well and what could be improved. Responses from staff were seen, and these showed some issues with low morale. The home has now managed to achieve a full compliment of staff which takes into account a gender and age balance. Some staff incentives are being introduced in the near future. The alleged incident of assualt earlier in the year resulted in a member of staff being dismissed and a referral made to the Protection of Vulnerable Adults register. The home acted appropriately in this to protect the person living at the home, and cooperated with the investigation fully. This demonstrates they have a clear understanding of the protection of Vulnerable Adults and safeguarding issues. Information on this is available within the home. A tour of the home showed clean and bright accommodation. There is an enclosed garden and each person has their own lounge and bedroom area where they can choose to spend time as well as in the communal areas on the ground floor. The home are planning to have a new kitchen installed, which will improve the current accommodation and make areas safer and more accessible to people livng at the home. They also plan redecoration to one persons room when they are away for a few days to avoid disruption. The medication systems are still being stored in the laundry area, but the home has Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 7 purchased a maximum and minimum thermometer which shows that the temperature does not fluctuate much in this area. Medication is in a blister pack system so is only held as a maximum for a month at at time. Contracts of residency are being reviewed to make sure they contain information on what people living at the home can expect to recieve for their fees paid and what they might be expected to pay for in addition to those fees. Evidence was seen of criminal records bureau checks being taken up on staff before they start working at the home. The full declarations for these do not need to be kept in the home, but a record must be kept of the disclosure numbers as discussed. Discussion was also held on the involvement of the manager in decision making about the suitability of staff. What the care home does well: 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 2. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 7 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 7 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 7 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 Adults (18-65 years) 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 © (2008) 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 7 - 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!
