Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 15th February 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 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 Elmside.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Elmside The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service 1 6 0 2 2 0 0 9 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: Jeffrey Orange Date of this annual service review: 1 2 0 1 2 0 1 0 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 6 Information about the service
Address of service: Elmside Walk Hitchin Hertfordshire SG5 1HB 01462451737 01462454298 home.hit@mha.org.uk www.mha.org.uk Methodist Homes for the Aged 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: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 66 0 0 66 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 66 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: Old age, not falling within any other category - Code OP Dementia - Code DE 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 In July 2007 the new, purpose- built Elmside Care Centre was opened on the same site as the previous home of the same name that had been operating since 1985. Elmside is now registered to provide personal care and accommodation for 66 older people. It is owned by MHA Care Group, which is a voluntary organisation. The home is located in a quiet cul-de-sac in the centre of Hitchin, close to town centre shops, churches, the post office and other amenities. The home consists of a two-storey building with
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 6 1 6 0 2 2 0 0 9 parking to the front and an extensive landscaped garden to the rear that includes seating areas, a sensory garden and raised flower beds. All the homes bedrooms are single and ensuite and there are a limited number of larger suites, that include a kitchenette/ lounge and separate sleeping area. There are a number of communal areas including a coffee shop, an IT suite, library, activity rooms and hairdressing/therapy rooms. The home has a Service User Guide, which gives contact details for the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and copies of the latest inspection report are available in the home. Current fees range from £525 to £640 for standard rooms, depending on the assessed level of care required. 3 care suites are also available, details of fees for these are available on request and are subject to assessment based on occupancy and dependency levels.( As at January 2010). These fees include hotel services and personal care but exclude newspapers, hairdressing, chiropody and personal toiletries, which are provided at additional cost. 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? We looked at all of the information we have received about Elmside since the last key inspection in February 2009. This includes the annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) completed by the home in November 2009. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well care outcomes are being achieved for the people who live in Elmside. It also includes some useful statistical information about the home, for example about staff training and details of the number of complaints that may have been received. We have received surveys returned to us from people who live in the home, from relatives, carers or advocates of people who live in the home and from care staff who work in the home. We have also made use of any other comments or information received about Elmside since our last key inspection; this could be from health and social care professionals associated with the home or other people who are involved with the home in any capacity. We have also regularly received information from Elmside in the form of notifications of significant events affecting the home or the people who live there. What has this told us about the service? The AQAA was very well completed, it represents a detailed and realistic appraisal of the homes performance and sets out not only what has been achieved well but also identifies areas where further improvements can be made, for example in reducing staff turnover and involving staff more in decision making. There are currently no outstanding concerns or complaints raised with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) by other health or social care professionals or agencies. Where safeguarding concerns have been raised in the period since the last key inspection, these have been dealt with promptly and openly by the home and in line with the requirements of Hertfordshire County Councils safeguarding policies and procedures. The homes AQAA informed us that 1 safeguarding alert was made by the home, and that there were a total of 3 safeguarding investigations undertaken during the past 12 months. In their AQAA the home informed us that there had been 1 complaint received in the past 12 months.This complaint was resolved within 28 days and was not upheld. The AQAA informed us that there are currently no complaints awaiting an outcome. The AQAA informed us that the home had, at the time it was completed, 45 permanent care workers, all of whom had undertaken the required induction training and 17 of whom held NVQ level 2 or above in Care or Health and Social Care. Encourages independence, Very caring staff, activities are very good, Beautifully clean are some of the many positive comments received about Elmside in surveys Annual Service Review Page 4 of 6 returned to the CQC. The overwhelming response was favourable and reflected a high degree of satisfaction with the care and environment of the home, its care staff and management. There were three main areas of concern that were raised in a number of surveys returned to us. These were within the context of otherwise positive appraisals of the home in each case, but nonetheless represent a consistent area of concern. Meal times are very poorly organised was one of these concerns, citing long delays in serving food and lack of any obvious priority for those who arrive in the dining area first. Another concern was the staffing levels at key times, particularly at week-ends which some of those who responded perceived as being inadequate. However, in the surveys returned 100 said that staff are usually available when they need them. The third area of concern expressed was that the care experience of those who do not see themselves as living with dementia is adversely affected by the interface between themselves and those who do live with dementia, with some concern being expressed that the balance of staff time is spent with the latter at the expense of the former. The above, whilst legitimate concerns, should be considered in the context of what were, overall very positive views and assessments of the care experienced by people living in Elmside expressed by all those who responded. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? The assessment of Elmside following the last key inspection in February 2009 was that it was a home that achieved excellent care outcomes for the people who live there. No events have occurred or information been received since then to suggest overall that assessment is still not valid and appropriate. We can inspect Elmside at any time if we have concerns about the care, welfare or safety of people living there. There is currently nothing to indicate that an inspection is required in the immediate future. The next key inspection of Elmside will be undertaken in line with the developing methodology of the CQC, currently this would mean a key inspection by February 2012. As with all care services, information will continue to be gathered over the intervening period and the performance of Elmside will continue to be subject to a process of continual assessment and evaluation, with appropriate regulatory activity being undertaken as indicated. 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:
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