Care Home: Heronsmede

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Annual service review Name of Service: Heronsmede The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 2 3 1 0 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: Helen Dickens Date of this annual service review: 1 6 1 0 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: 88 & 90 Straight Road Old Windsor Berkshire SL4 2SN 01753855694 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   susan.still@choiceltd.co.uk Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable): Choice Ltd The registered provider is responsible for running the service Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 8 The registered person may provide the following category 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 Learning disability - LD 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 Choice Ltd, an independent organisation, owns and manages Heronsmede which is a registered service offering personal care and accommodation for up to eight people, under the age of 65, who have a learning disability and associated challenging behaviour. The home is situated on a main road in Old Windsor with good access to local shops Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 8 0 2 3 1 0 2 0 0 8 and amenities. Heronsmede is a detached house and bungalow that have been joined together by an extension to provide a variety of areas for residents to use. There is a large garden, mainly laid to grass, with various outbuildings that offer additional accommodation for service users to use for leisure and activities, including art and craft and a sensory room. All accommodation is in single bedrooms. The communal areas consist of two lounges, one dining room and a dining area. There is limited car parking in the front of the property. Current fees range from £1518-£2760 per person per week. 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 returned 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. -Responses to any surveys we sent out. -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 including those who commission this service on behalf of social services clients. -What other people have told us about the service. -A telephone interview with the Registered Person on 15th and 16th of October 2009. What has this told us about the service? The AQAA stated that the following improvements have been made in the last 12 months: -Better internal communication, for example with improvements at staff handover and with residents daily diaries, and some residents have been on communication courses. -Some staff have had intensive interaction training, and some have attended RNIB training. -Staff have visited a specialist home for people with learning disabilites and sight impairments, in order to gain more information about supporting residents with these special needs. -The home is developing a sensory garden which would benefit all residents. -An extra member of staff works Monday to Sunday to support residents with activities. -All service users have a new care plan format in place. Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 -A new sensory chair has been purchased, there is new furniture in one lounge, and all floor coverings have been replaced. -The home now has two pet rabbits. -There is improved monitoring of residents, particularly those with epilepsy, including better recording formats, and more regular observations. -Staffing levels have improved and the home has not used agency staff for 8 months. A number of issues noted on the AQAA were discussed with the manager. She confirmed that though only 7 out of 21 staff had currently got an NVQ qualification, 9 others were currently doing NVQ courses. On the AQQA, the manager is required to record the dates when their various policies and proceduress were last reviewed. These had been left blank as the manager said they were currently under review. She was asked to complete this section and return to the Commission. Surveys were sent out prior to this inspection and eight were returned to the Commission. The three surveys returned from staff showed they were always given upto-date information about residents they were working with, and had regular support and supervision from their manager. When asked what the home did well, one person wrote: Manages the service users needs. Gives them the opportunity to use the community. One comment relating to staffing levels was passed to the manager for further acton. Three service users returned surveys, and these were completed with help from staff. All three ticked that they were able to make decisions about what they did, and would know who to speak with if they were unhappy. Two healthcare professionals returned surveys and both had positive comments to make about the home including Staff have a good knowledge of their residents and The service accesses community activities on a regular basis which benefits all the service users. The AQAA stated that two complaints had been received since the last inspection. The manager said that both had been satisfactorily concluded. There have been no complaints to the Commission. There have been three safeguarding adults referrals made since the previous inspection and these have now been satisfactorily resolved. The manager confirmed that the Requirements made at the previous inspection had been met, including reviewing the practce whereby residents pay for staff meals and drinks on outings. However, residents still pay the out of pocket expenses for staff, though the records of these transactions are now more transparent. The inspector has referred this back to the local safeguarding team to see if further discussions need to be held. The previous report concluded that Heronsmede offers a pleasant environment which is homely and well maintained. Feedback from health and social care professionals who deal with this home noted that there was a high level of staff committment, and that they had done well in the past with some difficult to place residents. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection schedule and will carry out a Key Inspection at this service by 22nd October 2010. 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. 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