Care Home: An Darach House

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Annual service review Name of Service: An Darach House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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 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: Sue Hayward Date of this annual service review: 2 7 0 5 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: 22 School Lane North Scarle Lincoln LN6 9EY 01522778851 01522866001 anna.donaldson@kisimul.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Ms Anne Donaldson Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Kisimul Group Ltd Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 6 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 6 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care Home only - Code 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 - code LD Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the Yes service’s registration details in the last 12 months? If yes, what have they been: Change of registered manager to Anna Donaldson who became the registered manager of Andarach House 26/01/09 . Date of last key inspection: Date of last annual service review (if applicable): Brief description of the service An Darach is situated next to the school in the village of North Scarle, with facilities that include a shop, post office, pub and church. The property, formerly a private house, has been modified and is now registered to give care and accommodation for Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 up to six people with a learning disability. All six people who use the service came from Kisimul school in Swinderby and lived at first in a house within the school grounds, from where they relocated to North Scarle in August 2007. There are six en-suite bedrooms, one of which is on the ground floor, a large kitchen, dining room and living room. There is a large garden to the rear, with a patio and a large, fenced off fishpond. There is parking for several cars to the front of the property. Information about the current range of fees as well as the day-to-day operation of the home including a copy of the last inspection report can be obtained from the manager. 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 we have received, or asked for, since the last inspection. This included : The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the service. The AQAA is a self-assessment tool that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gave us some numerical information about the service, such as how many people live at the home and how many work there. Surveys returned to us on behalf of the people using the service and from other people with an interest in the service. Information we have about how the service has managed 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 annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) was returned to us when we asked for it. It gave us the information we asked for and provided us with sufficient information about the service. We looked at the information in the AQAA and our judgement is that the home is still providing positive outcomes for the people who use the service and is aware of areas that can be improved in order to develop the service further. For example, they told us that as a result of listening to people who use the service they are developing more individualised activities for people. The comments of relatives and staff also showed this to be the case. For example, we support residents (people who use services) to become as independent as possible and treat residents as individuals and the support and care is excellent. There is a well thought out individual learning/care plan. They told us they aim to provide a service that is specific to the needs of the individual and that they constantly evaluate the service through monthly audits, feedback from people who use services, parents and social workers. We sent out surveys to all 6 people who live at the home and included surveys for them to pass on to their relatives if they wished. Those surveys returned contained positive comments about the experience of care that people who use the service receive. For example a relative commented, I feel the managers and owners of the Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 care home have always geared services to meet the needs of X, needs are definitely met, there is a high standard of care and residents are helped and encouraged to live as independently as possible. The staff aim to help residents reach their full potential. The surveys completed by relatives showed that they were supported to keep in touch, kept well informed and were involved in decisions about the care of their relatives. They also made comments which confirmed that their relatives needs were well met by the service and that they were happy for them to be at An Darach. The commission continues to be kept informed of relevant things that have happened since our last key inspection. Information provided in the AQAA has confirmed that there is a team of staff whose recruitment has included pre-employment checks which meet legal requirements. We were told that people who use the service are part of the interview process, as the second interview involves prospective staff attending the workplace. People who use the service therefore have the opportunity to meet prospective staff and give their input about who works in their home. All staff are involved in a common induction programme and have 1 day every 3 weeks as a training day to enable them to progress in their work. They told us that 6 out of 13 care staff have achieved a nationally recognised vocational award in care at level 2 or above. Both male and female staff members are employed to work in the home. The comments we received were positive about relationships between people who use services and staff. For example, The staff are supportive and I cannot speak highly enough of the An Darach care team. No matters were identified at the last key inspection of 8th May 2008, which needed attention. The service at that time was described as being very well run, with a well trained and supported staff team. Staff involve residents in the running of the home at every opportunity and encourage them to be more independent, while at the same time making sure they are safe from harm. No complaints or concerns have been raised with us since the previous key inspection, neither have we received any information since then which has given us cause for concern that the service is not being properly managed. Information provided in the AQAA confirmed that they had not received any complaints either. People told us that they thought their relatives were safe and well cared for. They knew that they could raise any concerns or complaints both formally and informally and felt any queries would be dealt with properly and quickly resolved. They told us they have a range of policies, procedures and systems in place to make sure people are kept safe although it was noticed some of these had not been reviewed since 2007 and there were a couple of policies (moving and handling and continence promotion) which were not showing as being in place. Both are areas that have a potential impact on people who use and work in care services. We contacted the manager and discussed this. We were assured that there are policies and procedures about moving and handling and continence promotion and that the organisation are in the process of reviewing all of the policies and procedures they have. The manager also confirmed that services of some systems such as the heating had occurred since the date given in the AQAA and has confirmed this in writing to us. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 They continue to work well with us and information obtained has shown this service continues to provide positive outcomes for the people who use it. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do a key inspection by 7th May 2011. However we can inspect the service at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service or the safety of the 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. 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). 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