Inspection on 07/10/08 for Viewmount

This inspection was carried out on 7th October 2008.

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

Viewmount 10/10/06

Viewmount 13/12/05

Viewmount 11/08/05

Viewmount 19/01/05

Viewmount 24/08/04

Viewmount 08/06/04

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10 Whitfield Avenue

Extracts from inspection reports are licensed from CQC, this page was updated on 17/12/2008.

Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for adults (18-65 years) Name: Address: Viewmount Alkington Road Whitchurch Shropshire SY13 1TD     The quality rating for this care home is:   three star excellent 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: Michael Moloney     Date: 0 7 1 0 2 0 0 8 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 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. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 23 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) 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. www.csci.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 23 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Viewmount Alkington Road Whitchurch Shropshire SY13 1TD 01948665262 01948662698 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Susan Ann Benson Type of registration: Number of places registered: Bethphage Great Britain care home 5 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 learning disability Additional conditions: Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Viewmount is a large three storey detached property in a residential area situated on the outskirts of the north Shropshire town of Whitchurch. The home offers access to local amenities, transport and all the necessary support services. A number of people carrier style cars are available to transport the residents to and from activities and appointments. Visitors are able to park on a tarmac area within the front garden of the house. Viewmount is registered with the Commission of Social Care Inspection (CSCI) to provide accommodation and personal care to five people with a learning disability. The home is managed by Ms Suzie Benson. Further information is available in the home?s service user guide and on the providers web site at http:/www.bethphage.co.uk/ 5 Over 65 0 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 23 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 peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: A range of evidence was used to make judgements about this service. This includes information from the provider which included a self assessment document that they are required by law to complete, records kept in the home, medication records, discussions with the staff team, tour of the premises, previous inspection reports and talking with as well as observing the care experienced by people using the service Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 23 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 23 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 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 23 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 good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Prospective people to use a service and their representatives have the information needed to choose a home, which will meet their needs. They have their needs assessed and a contract which clearly tells them about the service the will receive. Evidence: One person has been admitted to the home since the last inspection. Looking at the records of that process it could be seen that the manager and her staff had obtained as much information about that person before decided whether or not they could meet her needs. Apart from meeting the person concerned and talking with as well as observing her they talked with and obtained written information from her social worker as well as staff at the home where she was living at the time. The home was also seen to have a statement of purpose as well as an up to date service user guide. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 23 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 good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Individuals are involved in decisions about their lives and play an active role in planning the care and support they receive. Evidence: The records of two of the people living at the home were looked at and these were seen to contain care plans that had been developed from information that they had obtained about the individuals likes and dislikes. This information had been obtained in a professional and methodical manner by, where possible, by asking the person, observing them or asking people who know them well. During the inspection staff were regularly heard chatting with the service users and explainig what they were doing and, where appropriate, asking what they wanted to do. Talking to the staff showed that they were aware of the likes and dislikes of the people that they were talking with and how those people said either yes or no. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 9 of 23 Evidence: The records showed that various activities are organised for the service users and that these had been assessed so that any risks can be minimised. For example, during the inspection two of the service users went swimming and three of the staff went with them. This staffing level was what was recorded in the formal risk assessment for the activity Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 10 of 23 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 who use the service are encouraged to make choices about their lifestyle and are supported to develop their life skills. Social, cultural and recreational activities meet individuals expectations. Evidence: During the inspection the records of two of the people who live in the home were looked at. Both contained full Person Centred Plans that had been developed into care plans. The weekly sheets of these people contained activities that had been identified as being either liked by them or necessary for their well being. On the day of the inspection two people went swimming. This was a like identified in their Person Centred Plans. Staffing support levels were those identified in the risk assessment that had been developed for this activity. Another person confirmed that Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 11 of 23 Evidence: she had been out shopping that morning and her Person Centred Plan said and she confirmed that she likes doing this. She also confirmed that she goes to places like the Gateway Club where she likes to dance and meet with long term friends. All of this information was accurately recorded in her Person Centred Plan. During the inspection people were seen to help prepare their own lunch if they wanted to. Each person was asked what they wanted and this was prepared for them. Everybody seemed to be used to this process. The number of staff on duty during the evenings had been increased due to a change in the needs of one of the people who live in the home. All of the bedrooms were seen to be lockable but the files of each person showed why it was inappropriate for the occupant to have a key of their own. Staff were seen to knock before entering a bedroom or a bathroom. The preferred name of each person was seen in their records. Records of what each person had been offered at meal times showed that they have a balanced and varied diet that is in line with their identified preferences and needs. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 12 of 23 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. The health and personal care that people receive is based on their individual changing needs. The principles of respect, dignity and privacy are encouraged and put into practice. Evidence: Care plans and Person Centred Plans contained information about health issues and records of when health care professionals had been consulted. Records of health care reviews were confirmed by letters from the professionals concerned. Records of any treatment showed that progress was carefully monitored by the staff so that accurate and concise information could be made available to the appropriate healthcare professional. Supervision of personal care by staff seen to be discreet. Asking quietly and knocking on bedroom and toilet doors before entering. Person Centred Plans contained guidance on how individuals like to be given assistance and these instructions were also contained in any behaviour management guidelines. Talking with and watching the Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 13 of 23 Evidence: staff on duty confirmed that they knew what was in each persons records. Medication storage was seen to be appropriate using purpose made cabinets that are in a room that was seen to be kept locked when staff were not in it. The records of the administration of the medication were looked at and these were seen to have been completed appropriately. The manager said and staff confirmed that only trained senior staff are allowed to give out drugs. Talking with the manager and the senior staff confirmed that medication policies and procedures had been reviewed as a result of errors in the administration of medication by staff. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 14 of 23 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 good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People who use the service are able to express their concerns and have access to a robust, effective complaints procedure, are protected from abuse and have their rights protected. Evidence: The homes complaints procedure was looked at and seen to contain the information that would enable people to raise issues that concerned them to the management of the home. The manager confirmed no complaints had been received. Staff talked about the training in the policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults that they had received. Since the last inspection the home had been involved in the local policies and procedures for the protection of vulnerable adults due to a series of medication errors made by staff at the home. The provider was seen to have followed the process expected of them and reviewed and modified the way the home operated as a result. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 15 of 23 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 good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The physical design and layout of the home enables people who use the service to live in a safe, well-maintained and comfortable environment, which encourages independence. Evidence: This home is on three floors with all of the communal areas being on the ground floor. There are now four communal rooms; two lounge areas, a dining room and a newly added conservatory. The people living in the home have access to all of these areas. The laundry has also been moved since the last inspection and is now fully equipped and in the basement. Walking around the home it was seen to be generally well decorated, maintained and cleaned. The gardens to the rear were also well maintained and spacious with the grounds to the front of the home providing of road car parking. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 16 of 23 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 good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Staff in the home are trained, skilled and in sufficient numbers to support the people who use the service, in line with their terms and conditions and to support the smooth running of the service. Evidence: Looking at the rotas and talking with the manager and the staff as well as observing the care given at the time of the inspection it was seen that enough staff are on duty to meet the needs of the people who live in the home. The manager explained that staffing levels had been increased due to a change in the needs of one person and she now feels that the proper levels of support can now be given to all of the residents throughout the day. As mentioned elsewhere in this report staff were seen caring for the people who live in the home in a discreet and friendly manner. Watching them throughout the inspection it was clear that residents felt free to approach the to make their needs known. When service users became distressed staff were seen reacting in accordance with the individuals management plans. Looking at the training records and talking with the staff on duty as well as the Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 17 of 23 Evidence: manager confirmed that staff have been given the training necessary to meet the needs of the people living in the home. Of the 14 staff 11 have already achieved National Vocational Qualification level 2 or above in care. Looking at the files of a number of recently recruited staff showed that appropriate background checks had been carried out to as part of the procedures designed to ensure that those people who were wishing to work with vulnerable people were fit to do so. The records also showed that staff are able to meet individually with their manager on a regular basis to discuss how they provide care to the people living in the home. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 18 of 23 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 management and administration of the home is based on openness and respect, has effective quality assurance systems developed by a qualified, competent manager. Evidence: Talking with the manager confirmed that she has gained National Vocational Qualification level 4 in care as well as the Registered Managers Award both of which are appropriate for people who manage services such as this. Equality and diversity was seen to be promoted throughout the home within policies, care plans and activities. Although no records were kept at the home it could be seen by looking at the visitors book and talking with the manager, the staff and the Chief Executive of the provider company that senior managers visit the home on a regular basis. Person Centred Plan reviews were seen to take place on a regular basis enabling the home management to review whether or not they are meeting the needs of the people who live there. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 19 of 23 Evidence: A variety of records such as water temperature logs, fridge freezer temperature logs, Portable Appliance Test records and the fire equipment test records were seen to be in place showing that the safety of the environment in which the occupants live is monitored. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 20 of 23 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 Adults (18-65 years) Page 21 of 23 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 22 of 23 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 23 of 23 - 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. 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