Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 6th May 2010. CQC found this care home to be providing an Good service.
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 Firbank House Nursing Home.
What the care home does well The service provided us with a detailed and comprehensive overview in the Annual Quality Assurance (AQAA) document of what they felt they were doing well and where they needed to improve. The manager in post has applied to the CQC to be the registered manager of the home. Through discussion with the manager, it was evident that she was committed to her own ongoing professional development. The manager has the appropriate qualification for the role and is in the process of completing a leadership and management award. This means that people in the home can be confident that good practice is promoted and that the home is run in the best interests of the people living there. We looked at staff training records and these provided evidence of ongoing training and development opportunities for staff. All the staff we spoke to confirmed that they had access to training including the safe management of medication and adult safeguarding. We looked at three care plans and two of these were detailed and comprehensive and provided the staff with the information they needed to support people in an appropriate way. One care plan need additional information to ensure that care needs were met appropriately. The shortfalls in this care plan were addressed at the time of this visit. Recordings in care plans showed that people had access to a range of healthcare support services, and that where people needed the support of specialist practitioners a multidisciplinary approach was used. There was evidence to show that people were supported to access advocacy services where appropriate. Policies and procedures were in place for the safe handling of medication. A sample of records were looked at and these showed that there were good systems in place to record the receipt and disposal of medication. The manager had developed systems to audit and monitor medication practices in the home. These included an action plan to address any shortfalls identified. Policies and procedures were in place to ensure that people are protected from abuse and to ensure that individual concerns are acted upon. We spoke to a number of people living in the home and their relatives about their experiences in raising concerns. Comments from people included : "I have never had to make a complaint, but if I did I would speak to the staff or go to the manager if it wasn`t sorted". "I have raised concerns, and the manager acts on them. I feel the service is moving in the right direction ". "I have never had a complaint but if I did have I would talk to the staff, they are so easy to talk to. If you need a doctor they get one out to you". The Commission has not received any recent concerns about this service. The service has not had any recent safeguarding referrals. People were positive about the care and support they received from the staff team and told us that they felt their health and social care needs were being met. People told us: "I think it`s very good here, the staff are so patient". "They really look after you here and there`s always someone to help you if you need it". " I think it`s a good place, the meals are good and the staff speak to me in a nice manner". "Overall it`s not bad here. Staff are lovely and very caring. If you tell them something, they act on it straight away". What the care home could do better: There are no outstanding requirements or recommendations for this service. The manager has a good overview of the service and has demonstrated in the AQAA that she knows which areas require further development and improvement. She is already in the process of monitoring staffing levels against the dependency levels of the people living in the home. She is aware that these must be reviewed regularly. The manager continues to work well with us and keep us informed about things that happen in the service. Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Firbank House Nursing Home 24 Smallshaw Lane Ashton-under-Lyne Tameside OL6 8PN 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: Ann Connolly Date: 0 6 0 5 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Firbank House Nursing Home 24 Smallshaw Lane Ashton-under-Lyne Tameside OL6 8PN 01613431251 01613431007 firbankhouse@aol.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Partnership Caring Limited Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : care home 42 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 42 0 dementia old age, not falling within any other category physical disability Conditions of registration: 20 0 42 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: Old age, not falling within any other category - Code OP, Dementia - Code DE (maximum number of places 20), Physical disability - Code PD. The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 42. Date of last inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 8 Brief description of the care home Firbank House is situated near to Ashton-under-Lyne town centre. The home consists of two buildings, referred to as the main building and the annex. Nursing and personal care can be provided for up to 42 residents. The home is owned by Partnership Caring Limited, which is a private company, and is under the day-to-day control of a manager who is also a registered nurse. Fees for accommodation and care at the home are three hundred and ninty pounds per week. Extra charges are made for sundry items such as toiletries and newspapers and services such as hairdressing and chiropody. Twenty-one service users are accommodated in each building with rooms being spread over two floors. There are a total of 36 single rooms and three double rooms, of which the majority have en-suite facilities. Seven communal rooms offer a variety of settings in which service users are able to receive visitors, socialise and participate in activities. The home is close to local shops and bus routes. There is ample parking for those who choose to travel to the home by car. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 8 What we found:
This random inspection was carried out on Thursday 6th May 2010. During the visit we looked at Health and Personal Care (Standards 7, 8, 9 and 10), and Complaints and Protection ( Standards 16 and 18). We spoke with the manager and staff and some of the people living at Firbank. We also spoke to some relatives who were visiting. We looked at some care plans and medication records. We obtained information about the service in the Annual Quality Assurance (AQAA). The AQAA is a document which is completed by the manager of the service and contains information about what the service feels they do well and where they need to improve. What the care home does well:
The service provided us with a detailed and comprehensive overview in the Annual Quality Assurance (AQAA) document of what they felt they were doing well and where they needed to improve. The manager in post has applied to the CQC to be the registered manager of the home. Through discussion with the manager, it was evident that she was committed to her own ongoing professional development. The manager has the appropriate qualification for the role and is in the process of completing a leadership and management award. This means that people in the home can be confident that good practice is promoted and that the home is run in the best interests of the people living there. We looked at staff training records and these provided evidence of ongoing training and development opportunities for staff. All the staff we spoke to confirmed that they had access to training including the safe management of medication and adult safeguarding. We looked at three care plans and two of these were detailed and comprehensive and provided the staff with the information they needed to support people in an appropriate way. One care plan need additional information to ensure that care needs were met appropriately. The shortfalls in this care plan were addressed at the time of this visit. Recordings in care plans showed that people had access to a range of healthcare support services, and that where people needed the support of specialist practitioners a multidisciplinary approach was used. There was evidence to show that people were supported to access advocacy services where appropriate. Policies and procedures were in place for the safe handling of medication. A sample of records were looked at and these showed that there were good systems in place to record the receipt and disposal of medication. The manager had developed systems to audit and monitor medication practices in the home. These included an action plan to address any shortfalls identified. Policies and procedures were in place to ensure that people are protected from abuse and to ensure that individual concerns are acted upon. We spoke to a number of people living in the home and their relatives about their experiences in raising concerns. Comments from people included :
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 8 I have never had to make a complaint, but if I did I would speak to the staff or go to the manager if it wasnt sorted. I have raised concerns, and the manager acts on them. I feel the service is moving in the right direction . I have never had a complaint but if I did have I would talk to the staff, they are so easy to talk to. If you need a doctor they get one out to you. The Commission has not received any recent concerns about this service. The service has not had any recent safeguarding referrals. People were positive about the care and support they received from the staff team and told us that they felt their health and social care needs were being met. People told us: I think its very good here, the staff are so patient. They really look after you here and theres always someone to help you if you need it. I think its a good place, the meals are good and the staff speak to me in a nice manner. Overall its not bad here. Staff are lovely and very caring. If you tell them something, they act on it straight away. What they could do better: 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 Older People Page 5 of 8 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes £ No R 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 Care Homes for Older People 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 Older People 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 Older People 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 Older People 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!
