Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 8th January 2010. 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 Brambling House.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Brambling House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 1 0 1 2 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: Penny McMullan Date of this annual service review: 0 2 1 2 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service
Address of service: 46 Eythorne Road Shepherdswell Dover Kent CT15 7PG 01304830276 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: Mr Kanagaratnam Rajaseelan,Mr Kanagaratnam Rajamenon Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 20 0 0 20 The maximum number of service users to be accommodated is 20. 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 Yes 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 Brambling House is an extended detached property set back from the main road above a grassed bank and accessed by a steep drive. Car parking is available off road in a small car park at the rear of the premises. The Home is located off the main road through the quiet and rural village of Shepherdswell.
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 The Registered Manager has resigned. 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 8 There is a limited public bus service, but the village has a train station with direct mainline access. The house provides residential care for up to 20 older people, some of which may be dementia service users. Accommodation comprises of 16 single rooms, seven being located downstairs, with a further 9 single rooms and 2 shared rooms situated on the first floor. The Home benefits from having three communal spaces for Service Users downstairs, in the form of one small lounge, a lounge/diner and a large conservatory area. All parts of the Home are accessible to residents via a shaft lift. Each bedroom has a private washhand basin and call bell, a telephone is available for Service Users to use. Service Users have access to a garden with a patio area which is located to the side and rear of the property. 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 (AQAA) 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 home returned the Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it. This was clear and comprehensive. It identified areas that have improved in the last year and others where further developments are either planned or would benefit service users. This included evidence that the service seeks the views of residents and other stakeholders. The last inspection was carried out on 10th December 2008, when the judgement rating for the home was two star, good. This means that the people who live in the home receive good care outcomes. There was one requirement relating to fire safety in the home. The AQAA states that the home has complied with this requirement and is now completing appropriate fire drills. Information in the AQAA also indicates that the five recommendations made in the report have been addressed. Since the previous inspection the Registered Manager resigned and a new manager has been appointed. The new manager was previously a deputy manager in another home owned by the organisation and will be applying to the CQC to become the Registered Manager at Brambling House. The new manager commenced her duties in the home on 16th November 2009. There is evidence from the AQAA that the home is continuing to look at ways of improving what it does to ensure good outcomes for those receiving a service. For example, after consultation with the residents the home has taken into consideration Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 their views and suggestions and have changed the daily menu. There is now a raised flower bed for the residents to use and the dining room has been relocated. Residents were involved in choosing the colour scheme for the redecoration of the lounge and conservatory. The hallways have also been redecorated. The home has improved the pre-admission assessment document by including behavioural assessments to ensure that all aspects of equality and diversity are included. They make sure that within the first week of admission the pre assessment details are completed in the individualised care plan. During the last twelve months there has also been a full review of the care plan documentation and record keeping. The AQAA states that more in house activities and entertainment, based around the needs and wishes of the people, have been implemented. A permanent part time activity co-ordinator has been recruited and additional activity equipment has been purchased. The library service also visits the home. The exterior of the home has been repainted and internal decoration continues to be completed. New towels, bedding, flannels, crockery and some bedroom flooring have been replaced and new fridges have been purchased. The majority of staff have completed the accredited level 2 Dementia Awareness course. A new deputy manager is now in post and all senior staff have attended a NVQ level course in team leading. The quality assurance programme has been further developed with the introduction of new questionnaires that are now recorded on a spread sheet for analysis. This will make sure that people have a chance to have their say and influence the day to day running of the home. The home has implemented a new computer system which links them to the internet and their head office. Postal surveys were sent to ten people using the service, ten members of staff and five to health care professionals. Ten surveys from people using the service were returned, two from health care professionals and five from staff. Feedback from the postal surveys and comments have been included in this report. There are mixed views with regard to the quality of the meals being provided in the home. When asked if the people using the service liked the meals, out of the ten surveys returned, two said always, three said usually and five said sometimes. The people who use the service comment: The staff are very helpful. They do their best to find things for me to do and I have regular meals. When asked what the service does well one health care professional comments: The home cares well for the residents daily needs. Quite satisfied with care given to residents we see. Staff comments: We provide a homely home, residents are well cared for and are offered a wide variety of meals. Personally I think the present Manager has done a really good job and the home has improved a lot. We work well as a team a care for the residents in the home. This is a person centred home and we make the service good for the residents.
Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 When asked what the service could do better, comments are as follows: People using the service comments: Not keeping me waiting so long, at times. A relative comments that she had wished the home had stayed residential care only and when asked what the home does well she comments not a lot. One Health Care Professional comments: Maybe have more time spent with residents on a one to one basis, staffing levels permitting. Staff comments: More suitable activities. Could improve their meals, make more home made dishes e.g. pies. I would like to see an improvement in the kitchen. The food is sometimes hard and burned and not palatable. The menus are always the same, nothing special. The Registered Manager told us that a new cook has been appointed in the home and will be reviewing the menus. She told us that it is standard practice that the menus are reviewed at least twice a year or when the people who use the service make suggestions. The majority of the food provided in the home is homemade and no complaints with regard to the standard of the food have been raised. The home continues to let us know about things that have happened since our last key inspection and they have shown that they have managed issues well. They work well with us and have shown us that their service continues to provide good outcomes for the people who use it. There have been three complaints since the last inspection and information in the AQAA states that they have been responded to within the required timescales. One of these issues was an anonymous complaints sent directly to the Commission which the home investigated and responded to appropriately. 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 10th December, 2010. 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
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