Care Home: Elm Tree House

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What the care home does well Elm Tree House provides a very homely environment for the people who live there. The expert by experience wrote that the home has a real `family` feel on entry. People are able to make choices about their day to day lives and are supported to take part in a wide range of activities. People said that they had a high degree of freedom and were able to make decisions about how they spent their time. People living at the home were complimentary about the food and said that there were always choices available. We observed the main meal of the day, food was well presented and portions were ample. It was noted that people could choose where they ate their meal. People who completed questionnaires said that they knew who to talk to if they had any worries or concerns. All answered ALWAYS to the question "Do staff listen and act on what you say?" People spoken with during the day were complimentary about the staff who assisted them and the manager of the home. Staff were observed to interact with people in a kind and polite manner. Comments received from people living at the home included " I am cared for very well and happy living here" and "I love being here its the best home I`ve ever lived in." What has improved since the last inspection? Since the last inspection the home has continued to expand the activities on offer to people meaning that everyone is able to make choices about how they spend their time. Three requirements were made at the last inspection. Two were in respect of cleaning and infection control measures. All communal areas seen at this inspection were clean and fresh. Everyone who completed a questionnaire was happy with the standard of cleanliness within the home. At their last environmental health inspection the home was awarded 5 stars (excellent.) What the care home could do better: One requirement from the last inspection has been repeated at this inspection. At the last inspection, and on this occasion, it was noted that one member of staff had begun work in the home before two written references had been received. The home must ensure that the recruitment practises are robust and minimise the risks of abuse to people who live at the home. To further protect people, it is recommended that the home makes all staff aware of the local `Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults` policy and ensures that the whistle blowing policy gives clear contact details for appropriate agencies that staff can contact outside the home. It is also recommended that all policies and procedures in the home are reviewed and up dated where appropriated to ensure that they are in line with up to date legislation and good practise guidelines.Some concerns about how the behaviour of some people living at the home impacted on others were shared with the expert by experience and these concerns were passed onto the manager at the inspection. Key inspection report Care homes for adults (18-65 years) Name: Address: Elm Tree House 4 Kilkenny Avenue Taunton Somerset TA2 7PJ     The quality rating for this care home is:   two star good service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home 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 full review a ‘key’ inspection. Lead inspector: Jane Poole     Date: 1 5 0 7 2 0 0 9 This is a review of quality of outcomes that people experience in this care home. We believe high quality care should • • • • • Be safe Have the right outcomes, including clinical outcomes Be a good experience for the people that use it Help prevent illness, and promote healthy, independent living Be available to those who need it when they need it. The first part of the review gives the overall quality rating for the care home: • • • • 3 2 1 0 stars - excellent stars - good star - adequate star - poor There is also a bar chart that gives a quick way of seeing the quality of care that the home provides under key areas that matter to people. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better. We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area. Outcome area (for example Choice of home) These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. that people have said are important to them: They reflect the things This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection. This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor. Evidence: This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 2 of 26 We review the quality of the service against outcomes from the National Minimum Standards (NMS). Those standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought 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 The mission of the Care Quality Commission is to make care better for people by: • Regulating health and adult social care services to ensure quality and safety standards, drive improvement and stamp out bad practice • Protecting the rights of people who use services, particularly the most vulnerable and those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 • Providing accessible, trustworthy information on the quality of care and services so people can make better decisions about their care and so that commissioners and providers of services can improve services. • Providing independent public accountability on how commissioners and providers of services are improving the quality of care and providing value for money. Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report Care Quality Commission General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) 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. www.cqc.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 3 of 26 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Elm Tree House 4 Kilkenny Avenue Taunton Somerset TA2 7PJ 01823322408 01823322408 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Mrs Elizabeth Anne Coggins,Mr Philip Mark Coggins care home 9 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 mental disorder, excluding learning disability or dementia Additional conditions: One named resident over 65 years of age Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Elm Tree House is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide care to up to 9 people under the age of 65 who have mental health difficulties. The home itself is a large semi detached Victorian house, which provides accommodation on three floors. There are seven single bedrooms and one double. One single bedroom is on the ground floor and all others can only be accessed by stairs and therefore people living at the home need to be physically able. All communal areas are located on the ground floor. The home is owned by Philip and Elizabeth Coggins, Elizabeth Coggins is the registered manager. Fee range from £365 pounds per week with additional charges for one to one staff support. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 4 of 26 Over 65 0 9 Summary This is an overview of what we found during the inspection. The quality rating for this care home is: Our judgement for each outcome: two star good service Choice of home Individual needs and choices Lifestyle Personal and healthcare support Concerns, complaints and protection Environment Staffing Conduct and management of the home peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: The quality rating for this service is 2 star. This means the people who use this service experience Good quality outcomes. The focus of this inspection visit was to inspect relevant key standards under the Commissions Inspecting for Better Lives 2 framework. This focuses on outcomes for people and measures the quality of the service under four general headings. These are:- excellent, good, adequate and poor. This inspection was carried out over a one day period. The inspector from the Care Quality Commission was joined by an expert by experience for part of the inspection. An expert by experience is someone who has used services and therefore has a personal insight into the experience of being a service user. The expert by experience spent time talking with people living at the home and produced a report on their findings. Some of their findings and parts of their report have been incorporated into Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 5 of 26 this report. We, the Commission, were given unrestricted access to all communal areas of the home, were able to talk with people living and working at the home, observe care practises and view records. Prior to the inspection 5 people living at the home and 4 members of staff completed questionnaires and some of their comments have been incorporated into this report. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 6 of 26 What the care home does well: What has improved since the last inspection? What they could do better: One requirement from the last inspection has been repeated at this inspection. At the last inspection, and on this occasion, it was noted that one member of staff had begun work in the home before two written references had been received. The home must ensure that the recruitment practises are robust and minimise the risks of abuse to people who live at the home. To further protect people, it is recommended that the home makes all staff aware of the local Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults policy and ensures that the whistle blowing policy gives clear contact details for appropriate agencies that staff can contact outside the home. It is also recommended that all policies and procedures in the home are reviewed and up dated where appropriated to ensure that they are in line with up to date legislation and good practise guidelines. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 7 of 26 Some concerns about how the behaviour of some people living at the home impacted on others were shared with the expert by experience and these concerns were passed onto the manager at the inspection. 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 on page 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.cqc.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@cqc.org.uk or by telephoning our order line 0870 240 7535. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 8 of 26 Details of our findings Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 5) Individual needs and choices (standards 6-10) Lifestyle (standards 11 - 17) Personal and healthcare support (standards 18 - 21) Concerns, complaints and protection (standards 22 - 23) Environment (standards 24 - 30) Staffing (standards 31 - 36) Conduct and management of the home (standards 37 - 43) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 9 of 26 Choice of home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them, what they hope for and want to achieve, and the support they need. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, and people close to them, can visit the home and get full, clear, accurate and up to date information. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between the person and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People wishing to move into Elm Tree House have their needs assessed and are able to visit the home to help them to decide if they wish to move in. Evidence: One new person has moved to the home since the last inspection. The home had obtained a copy of a full assessment of need and the person had been able to visit before deciding to make Elm Tree House their home. The contract of residence states that the first 4 weeks of a persons stay is a trial period. This ensures that the person moving in has time to decide if the home meets their expectations and the home is able to make sure that they are able to meet the persons needs. Fees at the home are 365 pounds per week with additional charges for one to one time. The contract states what is included in the fee and what facilities and services may incur additional charges. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 10 of 26 Individual needs and choices These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People’s needs and goals are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. People are able to make decisions about their life, including their finances, with support if they need it. This is because the staff promote their rights and choices. People are supported to take risks to enable them to stay independent. This is because the staff have appropriate information on which to base decisions. People are asked about, and are involved in, all aspects of life in the home. This is because the manager and staff offer them opportunities to participate in the day to day running of the home and enable them to influence key decisions. People are confident that the home handles information about them appropriately. This is because the home has clear policies and procedures that staff follow. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People living at the home are supported to make decisions about their day to day lives. Care plans give clear guidance to ensure that people receive assistance in their chosen manner. Evidence: Everyone living at the home has a care plan that is personal to them. Two care plans were viewed, both contained an assessment of need from which a plan of care had been developed. The care plans seen gave details of peoples mental health history and their current needs. There was clear guidance for staff on how to support people with their everyday routines and needs. There was evidence that care plans are reviewed on a six monthly basis and the care plans seen had been signed by the person living at the home to say that they understood and agreed with its contents. All 4 staff who completed questionnaires answered ALWAYS to the question Are you given up to date information about the needs of the people you support? Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 11 of 26 Evidence: Risk assessments are in place to ensure that people are able to take part in day to day life at the home and outside activities with minimum risk to themselves and others. Everyone who completed a questionnaire before the inspection said that they were able to make choices about what they did during the day, in the evenings and at weekends. One person told the expert by experience that they had as much freedom as they wished and were able to go to town on their own. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 12 of 26 Lifestyle These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They can take part in activities that are appropriate to their age and culture and are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives and the home supports them to have appropriate personal, family and sexual relationships. People are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. Their dignity and rights are respected in their daily life. People have healthy, well-presented meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. People have opportunities to develop their social, emotional, communication and independent living skills. This is because the staff support their personal development. People choose and participate in suitable leisure activities. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People living at the home have access to a wide range of leisure and social activities. Staff assist people to keep in touch with family and friends. Evidence: There are no strict routines in the home and people are able to choose what time they get up, what time they go to bed and how they spend their day. At the time of this inspection people were involved in different activities at the home and in the community. One person was arranging flowers in the dining room, two people were out bowling with staff and others were either out or occupying themselves within the home. One member of staff wrote on their questionnaire Activities are very varied and on a Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 13 of 26 Evidence: regular basis, residents are offered activities everyday if they wish to participate. The expert by experience spent time talking to people living at the home. People said that they went bowling, swimming, played badminton, went to the cinema and went out shopping. People were very happy with the activities at the home and those in the local community. One person has a voluntary job, no one else has employment, paid or voluntary. People take part in a wide range of activities some with staff support and others unaccompanied. At times staff use their personal cars to assist people to access community facilities. In line with a recommendation made at the last inspection the arrangements for payment for transport have now been formalised. People pay a set amount per mile and receipts for payment are issued. Some people at the home use public transport; for example one person uses the bus to access a fitness class on the other side of the town and staff assist another person to use the train to visit a family member. There are a range of activities available within the home. One person likes gardening and grows some vegetables, some of which were being eaten for dinner on the day of the inspection. There are samples of peoples art work in the home and photographs of various trips out and holidays. The expert by experience reported It was clear that the needs of the residents were being met and that effort was being put in to make sure they were involved in daily activities. People living at the home told the expert by experience that Elm Tree House was more like a normal home than a care home. People were happy with the food served in the home and said that they were able to have drinks at anytime. One person said that the food at the home was excellent and there was always a choice. At lunch time people were able to choose where they ate their meal with one person choosing to eat at a table in the garden. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 14 of 26 Personal and healthcare support These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People receive personal support from staff in the way they prefer and want. Their physical and emotional health needs are met because the home has procedures in place that staff follow. If people take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it in a safe way. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them to feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People living at the home have access to health care professionals according to their individual need. Evidence: Care plans seen gave details of the level of support that people require with personal care. The home employs both male and female care staff which gives people some choice about the gender of the person who assists them with personal care. All rooms have shower facilities but there is no bath at the home which may limit choice for people. The manager and staff demonstrate a good knowledge of the physical and mental health needs of individuals. All appointments with outside professionals are recorded in care plans. These records show that people have access to doctors, community psychiatric nurses, dentists, chiropodists and other professionals according to their needs. Staff assist people to attend appointments if requested to do so. The home uses a monitored dosage system for medication. Medication is administered Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 15 of 26 Evidence: by staff who have received training in this area. Assessments are regularly carried out to ensure that people living at the home still require their medication administered to them rather than self medicating. Medication Administration Records (MARs) were viewed, these were all correctly signed when administered or refused. Some people have medication prescribed on an as required basis. There is a list at the front of the MARs giving brief details of when this medication should be given. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 16 of 26 Concerns, complaints and protection These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them, know how to complain. Their concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse, neglect and self-harm and takes action to follow up any allegations. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People living at the home are aware of how to make a complaint and feel confident that they would be listened to. The home need to up date policies and procedures to ensure that staff are aware of the actions to take if an allegation of abuse is made. Evidence: The home has a complaints procedure. Everyone who completed a questionnaire said that they knew how to make a complaint and all staff answered YES to the question Do you know what to do if a service user or advocate has concerns about the home? No complaints have been received by the home or the Commission in the last 12 months. The home has a policy on the protection of vulnerable adults but this needs to be updated to ensure that it reflects local guidelines and good practise. The whistle blowing policy also needs to be up dated to include contact details of outside agencies that staff can contact if they wish to raise serious concerns outside the home. Everyone who completed a questionnaire answered ALWAYS to the question Do staff listen and act on what you say? Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 17 of 26 Environment These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, comfortable, pleasant and hygienic. People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. People have enough privacy when using toilets and bathrooms. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Elm Tree House provides a comfortable homely environment for the people who live there. Evidence: Elm Tree House is a large town house set in a residential area of Taunton. It is within walking distance of the main town centre and other local amenities. The expert by experience reported The decor in the home was clean and comfortable, and there were photographs of clients and clients artwork on the wall. Accommodation is set over three floors. With the exception of one, all bedrooms are located on the first or second floor. There is no lift so people living at the home need to be physically mobile. Communal areas are located on the ground floor. There is a Kitchen, dining room, lounge and windowless quiet lounge. People living at the home have unrestricted access to their rooms and all communal areas. Communal rooms are adequately furnished and decorated, all are domestic and homely. Around the home there are a number of photos of the people who live there which increases the homely feeling. To the rear of the property is a pleasant garden with tables and chairs. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 18 of 26 Evidence: The laundry facility is located in a converted garage at the end of the garden. It is appropriate to the size of the home. At the last inspection concerns were raised about the cleanliness of bedrooms and a requirement was made. Only one bedroom was viewed during this inspection, which appeared adequately clean. All 5 people who completed a questionnaire answered ALWAYS to the question is the home clean and fresh? One person commented I find it very clean. The home has been awarded 5 stars (excellent) from the environmental health officer. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 19 of 26 Staffing These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent, qualified staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable. People’s needs are met and they are supported because staff get the right training, supervision and support they need from their managers. People are supported by an effective staff team who understand and do what is expected of them. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. Staff are the home are enthusiastic and competent in their roles. Evidence: The home employs 11 care staff, 4 have a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) or equivalent at level 2 or above. A further 4 members of staff are currently working towards this award. New staff complete the homes induction programme which is not in line with the skills for care induction. All staff who completed a questionnaire answered VERY WELL to the question Did the induction cover everything you needed to know? Staff spoken to during the inspection stated that they had been happy with the induction that they received. Staff were happy with the ongoing training opportunities available to them. One staff member wrote on their questionnaire The training and support staff receive is excellent, always ongoing. The recruitment files of the two most recently employed members of staff were viewed. Both contained application forms and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks dated before the person began work. One had only one written reference. Although the home were able to give verbal evidence that they had spoken to the second referee, and chased them for the written reference, this was not recorded in the Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 20 of 26 Evidence: recruitment file. Staff spoken with, and observed during the inspection were well motivated and confident in their roles. The expert by experience asked people living at the home about the staff and received no complaints. They wrote in their report I saw staff being diligent and kind and I could see by the many photographs that a huge effort was being made to give the residents some really happy times. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 21 of 26 Conduct and management of the home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have confidence in the care home because it is run and managed appropriately. People’s opinions are central to how the home develops and reviews their practice, as the home has appropriate ways of making sure they continue to get things right. The environment is safe for people and staff because health and safety practices are carried out. People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately, with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. They are safeguarded because the home follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and makes sure staff understand the way things should be done. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The home is effectively managed. There are systems in place to seek the views of people living at the home and other interested parties. Evidence: The provider/registered manager of the home is Liz Coggins. She has many years experience of working with people who have mental health difficulties and of managing a care home. She has achieved the Registered Managers Award (NVQ level 4.) Since the last inspection a new deputy manager and senior carer have been appointed. Both have registered to begin a National Vocational Qualification at level 4 to ensure that they have the skills to manage the home in the absence of the registered manager. The home also operates an on call system which is clearly marked on the duty rota. This ensures that there is always a senior member of staff available for advice and support. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 22 of 26 Evidence: Everyone spoken with described the manager as open and approachable. One staff member wrote on their questionnaire The manager is approachable and fair. People living at the home spoke fondly of the manager and one person told the expert by experience Liz the manager does a fantastic job. The size and nature of the home means that staff, and the manager, have opportunities to seek the views of the people who live there on a regular basis. There are also annual quality assurance surveys that are sent to people living at the home and other interested parties. Completed surveys from last year showed a high level of satisfaction with the service and facilities offered. There are regular meetings for staff where they are able to share information and make suggestions about the running of the home. There is a handbook of policies and procedures, many of the policies seen required up dating to ensure that they reflect current legislation and good practise guidelines. The home does not act as a financial appointee or power of attorney for anyone who lives at the home. Appropriate systems are in place to ensure the health and safety of people living and working at the home. A fire detection system is in place. This is regularly serviced by outside contractors and there are weekly in house tests to ensure that it is working properly. Staff have all received training in fire safety, moving and handling and first aid. Certificates of registration and insurance are displayed in the hall. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 23 of 26 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, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 1 34 19(1)(b)(i)Sc Written references should be 24/09/2007 hedule 2 obtained prior to a member of staff commencing work at the home. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 24 of 26 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, Care Homes 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 1 34 19 (1) [b] New staff must not 17/07/2009 begin work in the home until 2 written references have been received. To minimise the risks of abuse to people living at the home. 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 1 23 The home should obtain a copy of the Somerset policy on safeguarding vulnerable adults and ensure that all staff are familiar with it. The whistle blowing policy should contain contact details of appropriate outside agencies such as the Care Quality Commission. All new staff should complete a comprehensive induction programme in line with the skills for care common induction standards. The policies and procedures show be reviewed to ensure that they are up to date and reflect current good practise guidelines. These should be easily accessible to all staff. 2 23 3 35 4 40 Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 25 of 26 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. 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. Care Homes for Adults (18-65 years) Page 26 of 26 - Please note that this information is included on www.bestcarehome.co.uk under license from the regulator. 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