Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 18th May 2010. CQC found this care home to be providing an Good service.
The inspector found there to be outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report but made no statutory requirements on the home.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Astral Lodge.
What the care home does well All of the service users in this home have mental health problems and we were able to see that there are care plans and risk assessments in place in order to support them. The manager and staff are committed to helping them to live their lives in the way that they prefer but within a framework which will support and protect them from harm. Service users are involved in the care planning process and these are reviewed on regular basis to ensure that any changes are identified and can be addressed. The staff try to encourage them, wherever possible, to engage in activities outside of the home within the local community. We were able to see that residents allocated care mangers review placements on a regular basis and there are mechanisms in place to increase the frequency of these if necessary. Those who are unable to manage their own finances and who have no relative or representative to help them are appointees of The Court of Protection. There are opportunities for both service users and their families to comment on care provision with the distribution of quality assurance surveys and also regular "house meetings" at which they are able to share their concerns and ideas. Staff training has improved since the last inspection with more care staff being trained to NVQ level 2. There are also qualified mental health nurses on duty at all times in the home. What the care home could do better: Our visit to the service did not provide us with any evidence to suggest that we should change our inspection plans. However, we did suggest, to the manager of the home, that he might wish to explore the use of independent advocates for service users. We will continue to inspect the home in line with our agreed inspection programme although we can visit at any other time should we receive any information which concerns us. Random inspection report
Care homes for adults (18-65 years)
Name: Address: Astral Lodge Astral Lodge 2 Cumnor Road Sutton Surrey SM2 5DW two star good service The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed review of the service. Details of how to get other inspection reports for this care home, including the last key inspection report, can be found on the last page of this report. Lead inspector: Alison Ford Date: 1 8 0 5 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Astral Lodge Astral Lodge 2 Cumnor Road Sutton Surrey SM2 5DW 02086421884 02086617974 benniedarkey@btinternet.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mr Bennie Darkey Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Astral Lodge Limited care home 17 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia Conditions of registration: 17 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is:17 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care home with nursing - Code N to service users of the following gender: Either whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Mental disorder, excluding learning disability and dementia - Code MD Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Astral Lodge is a care home providing mental health nursing care for to up to a maximum of seventeen adults (two of whom would share a double occupancy room) who have enduring mental health problems. The home currently has a variation to
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 8 Brief description of the care home provide care to two service users who are over 65 years of age. The home provides 24-hour mental health nursing support to all service users, with care staff support provided under the nursing staff members supervision. The ethos of the establishment - established since June 1996 - is self-help within the understanding / context of the psychological and other social and physical needs of each individual. Accommodation is extensive and provided over two floors; a large lounge, a dining room are provided. There are fifteen single and one double bedroom (currently singly occupied), situated over both floors of the home. Two toilets are situated on each floor, with a bathroom on the first floor and a shower room situated on the ground floor. The home has a relatively small, but pleasant, garden - through which there is a route to the laundry facility. There is car parking for three on the hardstanding at the front of the house, with more spaces available at the side of the building. The home is very close to Sutton town centre (five minute walk away), with its associated excellent transport links and all shopping and leisure amenities. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 8 What we found:
Our last Key Inspection visit to this service was in December 2007 at which time it was judged that the home was providing good quality outcomes for the people who live there. Since that time we have received some information which told us that some people consider that there are some restrictions on the decisions that they are able to make. We decided to undertake a short random inspection of the home so that we could judge whether service users are being supported to make decisions which affect their ability to live their lives as they choose. Also to ensure that they are given the opportunity to influence the provision of services in the home so that they suit their needs and preferences. What the care home does well: What they could do better:
Our visit to the service did not provide us with any evidence to suggest that we should change our inspection plans. However, we did suggest, to the manager of the home, that he might wish to explore the use of independent advocates for service users. We will continue to inspect the home in line with our agreed inspection programme although we can visit at any other time should we receive any information which concerns us.
Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 8 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 2. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 8 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes R No £ 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, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 1 35 18(1)(c) You must continue to develop a clearer written staff training and development programme that includes specific refresher training in all aspects of mental health for all care staff. 30/04/2008 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 8 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, 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 7 of 8 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report Care Quality Commission General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies of the National Minimum Standards –Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or got 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 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 summary in a different format or language please contact our helpline or go to our website. © Care Quality Commission 2010 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any format or medium for noncommercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. The source should be acknowledged, by showing the publication title and © Care Quality Commission 2010. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 8 - 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!
