Care Home: 49 Almond Close

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Annual service review Name of Service: 49 Almond Close The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 2 3 0 2 2 0 0 9 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 review of the service. We call this review a ‘key’ inspection We do an annual service review when there has been no key inspection of the service in the last 12 months. It does not involve a visit to the service but is a summary of new information given to us, or collected by us, since the last key inspection or annual service review.   Has this annual service review changed our opinion of the service?   No You should read the last key inspection report for this service to get a full picture of how well outcomes for the people using the service are being met. The date by which we will do a key inspection: Name of inspector: Lisa Johnson Date of this annual service review: 2 5 0 2 2 0 1 0 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: 49 Almond Close Bellfields Estate Guildford Surrey GU1 1NW 01483575806 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   www.mencap.org.uk Royal Mencap Society Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 8 0 The maximum number of service users to be accommodated is 8. The registered person may provide the following category/ies of service only: Care home only ? (PC) to service users of the following gender: Either Whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Learning disability (LD) Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the No service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service 49 Almond Close, Guildford is a detached property developed to provide accommodation for eight adults with learning disabilities. The home is set in a road close of similar properties. All rooms are for single occupancy, none with en-suite facilities. The home offers a sitting room equipped with television and music systems, a dining area, kitchen, and utility room for laundry and toilet and washing facilities. There is a garden to the rear of the property and some off road parking to the front. The registered providers are the MENCAP organisation and the Local Authority owns Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 2 3 0 2 2 0 0 9 the premises. The weekly charges range from £479.81- 677.42 Annual Service Review Page 3 of 7 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review: What did we do for this annual service review? We looked at all the information that we have received, or asked for, since the last key inspection or annual service review. This included:The annual quality assurance assessment that was sent to us by the service. The (AQAA) is a self assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. Surveys returned to us by people using the service and from other people with an interest in the service. Information we have about how the service has managed any complaints. What the service has told us about things that have happened in the service, these are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous key inspection and the results of any other visits that we have made to the service in the last 12 months. Relevant information from other organisations. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The registered manager returned a clear and detailed annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA). The self-assessment identified areas that had improved in the last year and others where further developments were being planned, which would benefit people using the service. It is our judgement that the home is still providing a good service and that they know what further improvements they need to make. Person centred plans have been implemented, which are developed and reviewed in consultation with people. The service has been working towards becoming supported living. Information supplied in the AQAA states that people are being supported in this process and that consultation also takes place with families. Information supplied in the AQAA states that in the last year people have gained more independence and that they are more involved in the running of the home, including support with managing their own finances and they have been provided with lockable facilities in their bedrooms for maintaining their monies. Two relatives surveyed said that the service usually meets the needs of their relatives and one person said sometimes. Two relatives said that the service keeps them up to date with important issues affecting their relative, although one person responded Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 never. Information supplied in the AQAA states that people are encouraged and supported to be independent as possible and some people attend activities without staff support. People attend a range of vocational, educational, recreational and social activities including, work at a supermarket, attending gardening projects, going to the shops, attending social clubs and church, visiting the theatre, going to the pub, cinema, and bowling. Outings are also arranged to places of interest. One person surveyed said that more weekend activities could be provided. People also continue to be involved in household activities such as household chores and cooking. People maintain links with their family and friends. In the last year family contact has increased and people have been supported to write cards, which has been positive. We received feedback surveys from three people who live in the service, which indicated that they are still happy living in the home. Comments included, The staff help me make phone calls, I like the outings and The food is nice, I like the staff, I have a nice room and Very good food. Information supplied in the AQAA indicates that people have health action plans and they continue to be supported to access a range of health care specialists. In the last year staff have received diabetes training to enable them to meet the needs of a person living in the service and they have also received updated medication administration training. Lockable medication administration cupboards have been supplied in peoples bedrooms for people to maintain their own medication. The service provides a complaints procedure to people living in the service , which is also made available in the service user guide. People are also encouraged to raise any concerns and complaints during house meetings. The service has not received any complaints in the last year. Staff continue to receive safeguarding vulnerable adults from abuse training and they are made aware of policies and procedures ensuring people using the service are protected. There have been no safeguarding referrals made following the local authority safeguarding procedures in the last year. In the last year the service has continued to make improvements in the environment including new lighting, which has been installed in the communal lounge, the downstairs shower has been made more accessible for people to use and improvements have been made in the garden. Information supplied in the AQAA has also identified future plans for improvement. People living in the service benefit from a stable staff team and there has been no staff turnover in the last year. New staff receive induction and foundation training. Currently four out of six care staff employed have obtained National Vocational Qualifications. Two members of staff are waiting to commence NVQ (Level 3). The service continues to support staff to access training and development. Information supplied in the AQAA states that in the last year staff have become more confident in using the computer, therefore they have been able to access and update mandatory training. The service also accesses external venues. A manager has been appointed who holds the Registered Managers Award who is Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 currently in the process of making an application to register with the Care Quality Commission. There are systems in place to monitor quality assurance. The manager completes a monthly quality report and visits take place where a quality service review is carried out. The organisation has implemented a range of continuous improvements plans, which are also monitored and checked. Information supplied in the AQAA states that relatives are provided with a family charter form,which provides them with the opportunity to provide about the quality of the service. Health and safety has been considered in the AQAA, which indicates that regular health and safety checks and audits are conducted. Servicing and maintenance of equipment is carried out and is up to date. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan and we will do a key inspection by 23rd February 2011. However we can inspect the service at anytime if we have any concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of people using the service Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Annual service review CQC General Public 0870 240 7535 (national contact centre) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. The content of which can be found on our website. Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk Web: www.cqc.org.uk We want people to be able to access this information. 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