Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 15th December 2009. it is an annual review prepared by CQC after examining previous reports and information from the provider. At the time of this report, CQC judged the service to be Good.
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.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Alexander House.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Alexander House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 2 7 1 1 2 0 0 8 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: Mark Hemmings Date of this annual service review: 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service
Address of service: 140/142 Folkestone Road Dover Kent CT17 9SP 01304212949 01304204615 kerry.allcock@njch.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : dementia old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: Nicholas James Care Homes Ltd Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 46 0 0 46 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 46 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: Old age, not falling within any other category - OP Dementia - DE 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 Up to 46 people can make their home in Alexander House (the Service). At present there are 38 people in residence. Most of those in residence are older people. Some of them also have problems with parts of their comprehension. The premises are two large detached properties that have been connected by means of two conservatories and various other rooms. The accommodation is provided on each
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 2 7 1 1 2 0 0 8 of the three floors. All of the bedrooms are for single occupancy. Each of the bedrooms has a private wash hand basin and 25 of them also have a private toilet. They are laid out as bedsitting areas. Each room has a comfortable chair and a television point. People can have their own telephone put in if they want. Alternatively, they can use one of the Services two mobile telephones free of charge. There are three passenger lifts that give step-free access around the accommodation. The bathrooms are fitted with special hoists so that people can have a bath in safety and comfort. There are also mobile hoists that can be used in the bedrooms. There are various lounges. People can use them as and when they wish. There are also two dining rooms. There is a large paved courtyard between the two main buildings. This is shielded from the main road by gates. Also, there is a small enclosed garden area. The Service is located close to Dover town centre. Consequently, it is quite close to a range of shops and transport links. There is a small amount of off road parking for visitors. The Registered Provider is a private limited company. It runs a number of other residential services in the area. People can contact the Manager to find out details about the current charges for living in Alexander House. 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 our last Key Inspection. We completed this on 27 November 2008. The information we considered includes the following: The Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (the Assessment) that was sent to us by the Registered Provider. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the Service. It also gives us some numerical information about the Service. Information we have about how the Service runs. This includes what the Manager has told us. Information that six people who live in the Service and two care workers have given in questionnaires they kindly completed for us. What the Registered Provider has told us about things that have happened in the Service. These are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous Key Inspection Report. Relevant information from other organisations. What has this told us about the service? The Registered Provider sent us its Assessment. It is detailed and gives us a good description of how things are going in the Service. The Assessment and what the Manager has told us, show that various improvements have been made since our last Key Inspection. These include things that make a direct difference to peoples everyday lives. For example, there is a new activities coordinator and she has extended the range of social opportunities in which people can choose to participate. New garden furniture including parasols has been provided. Some of the bedrooms have been recarpeted. The menu has been altered so that there is more choice and variety. Other improvements are planned for the forthcoming year. These include laying new carpets in more of the bedrooms and also putting up new curtains. The activities coordinator hopes to offer people more outings from the Service. This may include being able to use a hydrotherapy pool that is in another of the Registered Providers nearby services. All care workers will be completing special training in how best to support people who have problems with their comprehension. Also, some of the care workers will be completing a relevant National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). This Award is very useful because it develops care workers ability to assist people in ways that are right for them. At the previous Key Inspection, the Registered Provider was not required to undertake any particular improvements. We thought that things were going well. We gave the Service two stars. This means that it provides a good response to the needs of the Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 people who live there. We did recommend a small number of developments that would build on the provision already in place. These included strengthening some of the detail in the individual written plans of care and support. The Assessment says that this has since been done. Another thing was the need to make sure that the complaints procedure is easily available. The Manager says that this has since been done. In their questionniare replies, all of the people who live in the Service say that they always receive the care and support they need. They also think that there are enough social activities and they say that they enjoy their meals. One person says that the most important thing about the Service is the friendly and cheerful staff. The Assessment says that people are regularly asked what they think about how things are going. This is done both informally as part of everyday life and in house meetings. People are supported to stay healthy and they are helped to seek medical attention as and when it is needed. Sensible arrangements are in place to assist people to take medicines in the manner intended by their doctors. There are systems to ensure that medicines are given to the right person at the right time. Since the last Key Inspection there have been two incidents when a medicine was given to the wrong person. We understand that the Manager immediately sought and followed medical advice and that the people concerned did not come to any harm. The Manager says that new systems have been introduced to reduce the likelihood of the same incidents happening again. In their questionniare replies, people who live in the Service say that the accommodation is presented to a comfortable domestic standard. The Registered Provider has looked into two complaints since the last Key Inspection. One of these was about some minor repairs that needed to be made in one of the bedrooms. The Manager says that these repairs were quickly done. The other involved general concerns from relatives about how well someone was being supported. The Manager says that the matter was referred to the persons care manager (social worker) and that it was fully investigated. She says that the investigation concluded that the complaint was not justified. We have not received any complaints about the Service. There are always at least five care workers on duty during the day and evening. There is a waking staff presence at night. During the day there are other members of staff on duty such as housekeepers and people who work in the kitchen. In their questionniare replies both of care workers say that there are usually enough members of staff on duty. The Assessment says that suitable security checks are in place to ensure that the care workers are trustworthy people. There is a training system that is designed to ensure that support workers know what they are doing. Sensible things are done to help keep people safe. This includes giving some people the reassurance of having bed rails if they want them. The Manager says that good standards of hygiene are achieved in the kitchen. The premises are fitted with an automatic fire detection system. This provides a high level of protection. The Assessment says that fire safety equipment and other things such as the electrical wiring and gas appliances are regularly checked. This is done to make that they remain in good working order. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 The Manager has been in post since November 2007. The Registered Provider has only just arranged for her to submit an application to us for her to be registered in her post. It is a legal requirement that there is a registered manager. This is because we need to confirm that there is a suitable person to oversee the running of the Service. The Manager has assured us that an application will be made without any further delay. We must receive the first stage of this application by 1 December 2009. If this is not done, we will consider taking further action to ensure the Registered Providers compliance. Our overall judgement is that the Service continues to provide a good quality of care for the people who live there. 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 are going to complete a Key Inspection by 26 November 2010. However, we can inspect the Service at any time, if we have concerns about the quality of the Service or about the safety of the people living there. 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. If you would like a copy of the findings in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. Copyright © (2009) Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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 CQC copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Annual Service Review 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!
