Care Home: Gatesgarth

Annual service review Name of Service: Gatesgarth The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 1 7 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: Diane Jinks Date of this annual service review: 1 1 1 2 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: The Green Little Broughton Cockermouth Cumbria CA13 0YG 01900828487 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   www.c-i-c.co.uk Community Integrated Care Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability physical disability Conditions of registration: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 4 4 0 0 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: Learning disabilities - Code LD, Physical disability - Code PD. The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 4 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 Community Integrated Care are the Responsible Company for Gatesgarth and provide care and services for up to four people with a learning and physical disability. They operate a number of similar facilities both in Cumbria and other parts of the Country. Gatesgarth is located in a quiet residential area in the village of Little Broughton, several miles from the town of Cockermouth. It blends into the other residences in the local community. Car parking facilities are to the front of the home and garden areas Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 1 7 1 2 2 0 0 8 to the back and side. The detached premises have a ground and first floor. Service users only use the ground floor. There is a lounge, dining room, kitchen, shower, bathroom and toilet facilities, utility room and four private bedrooms and an office. All rooms used by service users have level access. There is also a designated open area off the corridor that is used for a relaxing sensory facility. Specialised aids and adaptations are provided. Access into and around the home is level and appropriately designed for people who use wheelchairs. Private transport is provided to facilitate access to local amenities, facilities and appointments. 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. This included: The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the manager. The AQAA is a self-assessment that is filled in once a year by all providers. It focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people using the service. It also gives us some statistical information about the home. Surveys returned to us by people using the service and some of the staff that work at Gatesgarth. The previous key inspection report, particularly where requirements and recommendations have been made to help make improvements to the service. We also checked whether there have been any complaints made about the home or whether there have been any matters regarding the safeguarding of vulnerable adults (abuse). There have been no reports of any complaints or of anything abusive happening at the home. What has this told us about the service? Ms Stamper, the manager at Gatesgarth sent us the annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it. She provided us with information about the service particularly where improvements have been made and where further improvements are planned. At our last visit to Gatesgarth we did not make any requirements but we did make four good practice recommendations for the providers to consider. The recommendations were in respect of storing sensitive and confidential information securely, improving some of the medication records, publishing the results of a recent quality survey the home had carried out and ensuring that records relating to fire drills and staff fire training were maintained properly. The information supplied in the AQAA indicates that the manager has taken some action to meet these recommendations and has also acknowledged that further improvements could be made. The manager has outlined further improvement plans for the coming year. Within the AQAA, the manager has generally identified the strengths of the home, areas where further improvements can be made and plans for how those improvements will be implemented over the next year. From all of the information we looked at, our judgement is that the home generally continues to provide a good service. We sent surveys to all of the people that live at Gatesgarth and two were returned to us. Everyone had received some support from one of their relatives to complete the Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 surveys. People indicated that they were given enough information about Gatesgarth to help them make their decisions. They told us that they are able to make their own decisions on day to day matters. They also told us that they can choose to do what they want to do during the day, evening and at weekends. People told us that the staff always listen and act on what is said and that the staff treat them well. The people that live at Gatesgarth know about the complaint process and know who to speak to if they are not happy about something. The manager told us that the staff try to work in a person centred way and fully include the person in all planning, giving consideration to the different levels of comprehension and support they may need. The manager said that there are a range of activities available in the home and in the community. The manager said that developments have been made and that they hope to make further improvements to; enable service users to be able to take part in age, peer and culturally appropriate activities and social events in 2010. Most of the staff at the home have gained a relevant NVQ (National Vocational Award). There is a training plan in place at the home and staff are encouraged to keep their skills up to date. The manager said that the home has a good record of staff retention. This helps to ensure that people using this service receive consistent support from people they know well and trust. The manager tells us that she is very proud of the staff team and a member of staff told us that staff work hard to do their best. Two members of staff returned surveys to us. One person said that they received suitable training but the other said they did not. The surveys indicated that there may not always be a sufficient number of staff on duty to always fully meet the needs of the people that live at Gatesgarth. The manager said in the AQAA that the home could do better by having, more time for residents. Increased staffing levels would mean we would have enough 1:1 time. Comments we received from people who live at Gatesgarth included: The home does well by keeping my room tidy, taking me out and on holiday. The meals are tasty and I have nice baths. Another person, completed the survey on behalf of their relative. They said, my relative is very well loved and cared for. I could not wish for anything better for him. Staff views on the home were varied. Some of the comments made indicated that staffing levels could be improved. One staff member said, Staff work hard and do their best with limited staff on shifts. Another person said, We do well at everything at all times. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? The Care Quality Commission will continue to monitor information about this service and will carry out an inspection when required. 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 5 of 7 Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 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: 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 copy of the findings 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. 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