Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 26th November 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 Excellent.
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 Arden House Nursing Home.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Arden House Nursing Home The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service 1 9 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?
Yes 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: Sheila Knopp Date of this annual service review: 2 3 1 0 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 6 Information about the service
Address of service: 31 Upper Highway Hunton Bridge Kings Langley Hertfordshire WD4 8PP 01923262157 01923267137 ardenlgl@tiscali.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : old age, not falling within any other category terminally ill Lower Green Limited Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 2 22 0 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 Arden House is an extended Edwardian House in a residential area of Hunton Bridge that provides accommodation for up to 22 people who require nursing care. The home is slightly set back from the road. A small forecourt provides access to the home with limited off road parking. There is a bus service that stops directly outside the home. Residents are accommodated on the ground and first floor. Lift access is provided to the first floor. There is a single storey extension to the rear of the building. Residents are accommodated in 16 single rooms, two of which have en-suite provision and 2 double rooms. The L-shaped day area is used as a lounge and dining area. Assisted bathing and toilet facilities are provided. Arden House has been a nursing home for many years but does not fully meet the current enhanced requirements for communal space for homes registered from 1 April 2002. The home changed ownership in 2006. The current proprietor has reported plans
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 6 1 9 1 1 2 0 0 8 to extend the lounge to provide additional communal space but this has not yet taken place. Information about the home in the form of a statement of purpose, service user guide and previous inspection reports are available on request from the manager, together with details of the current fee levels. Different charges may be applied to local authorities responsible for funding arrangements. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 6 Service update since the last key inspection or annual service review:
What did we do for this annual service review? Our last full inspection of this service took place on 19/11/08 when it was assessed that Arden House was providing an excellent service to the people who live there. For this review we looked at all the information we have received, or asked for, since our last visit. This included: The Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the manager. 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. Making surveys available to people who live at Arden and their relatives so their views can be included in this assessment. 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. Relevant information from other organisations. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The manager sent us a detailed self-assessment (AQAA) when we requested it. The information told us that the manager and provider continue to monitor the quality of the service with the involvement of residents and their relatives. A relative told us the owners are always making improvements and keep me very well informed about matters concerning the home. The manager told us a full time activity organiser has been recruited, which will enable the home to develop the social side of the service it offers. Following our last visit we recommended that the nurses updated their training on managing adverse reactions to medication. The manager has advised us that this has taken place. The managers assessment provides information that tells us there is a continued focus on meeting peoples individual needs and preferences. This is also supported by the information we received from residents and their relatives. We received completed survey forms from 6 out of the 10 residents we sent them to. Commenting on what the service does well people said Arden House, looks after the elderly very well, provides care and people who listen and show compassion, nursing and caring and everything, this home is like a second home. Four people said they always receive the care they need and two people said this was usually the case. Commenting on whether staff were available when needed 3 people said they were always available and 3 people said this was usually the case. Everyone confirmed there was someone to speak to if they were not happy. Two people added comments Annual Service Review Page 4 of 6 under the heading what the service could do better. One person told us the dining facilities would be improved if the proposed extension were built. Another person said they would like to be able to open their own window to provide better ventilation. Seven out of the 10 relatives we made surveys available to replied. Under the heading what does the service do well people said a generally caring atmosphere prevails, with a small family ethos. Arden House provides a comfortable friendly environment with people who care and listen. Arden House is an extremely well run home. It is always fresh and clean. The staff work hard and to a high standard. They are very caring and it shows in the way they treat the residents. Arden House is a lovely home with a great family atmosphere. Under the heading what could the service do better two people said there could be more choice and variety of food. Another person wanted to be informed when the doctor visited, so they could be present. One person told us that one or two of the care staff exhibit impatience with relatives. We have recently been notified about two incidents being investigated under the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Adult procedure. The procedure is in place, to bring representatives of services responsible for monitoring the safety and well-being of vulnerable adults together, to investigate concerns and ensure there is a support plan in place to look after the interests of the people involved. A formal investigation is currently in progress and the results are not yet available to us. The managers AQAA confirms staff receive training in protecting people from harm and identifies the need to review reporting practices within the home. This should also include reporting events that affect the welfare of people in the home to us when they are identified. We have not received any formal complaints about Arden House nor been contacted directly by any health or social care professionals who visit people living in the home. This means we have not needed to make any additional visits since our last review. The manager told us one complaint had been investigated under the homes own complaint procedure. The range and number of notifications we have received about this service from the manager appear to be consistent with the nursing service provided to older people. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We will continue to monitor the service, including the outcome of the current safeguarding investigations. This may mean we decide to do a random inspection if further action is required. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 6 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 6 of 6 - 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!
