Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 26th November 2009. 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 Larchmere House.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Larchmere House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service 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: Susan Hall Date of this annual service review: 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service
Address of service: Biddenden Road Frittenden Kent TN17 2EN 01580852335 01580852222 family.care@btconnect.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: Family Care UK Limited Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 33 The maximum number of service users to be accommodated is 33 The registered person may provide the following category of service: Care home with nursing (N) t service users of the following gender: Either whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following category : Old age, not falling within any other category (OP) 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 Larchmere House is a modern detached building, which has had a purpose built extension added, to increase its facilities. It is situated in the attractive village of Frittenden, which is near to the towns of Ashford and Maidstone. It is easily accessible by road, and car parking is available at the front of the premises. Frittenden has limited access to public transport, but the nearby village of Staplehurst has a main line railway station, and other public transport. The home is owned by Family Care (UK) Limited, and the providers take an active interest in the management and running of Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 the business. At least one of the Directors is on the premises for three to four days each week. Accommodation is provided on two floors and comprises twenty-three single bedrooms, six of which have en-suite facilities; and five shared bedrooms, two of which have en-suite facilities. A passenger lift provides easy access between floors. There are a variety of communal areas, including a large lounge, a smaller sun lounge, a separate dining room and a small quiet room. Gardens at the rear provide additional seating areas in good weather. The home is well known in the village, and has excellent day to day links with the village community. As it provides nursing care for older people, it has trained nurses on duty 24 hours per day. The current fees range from £520.00 to £730.00 per week, depending on the assessed needs of individual clients. Items which are covered or not covered by the fees are clearly presented in the residents handbook. 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? Larchmere House had a key inspection carried out on 17th October 2007, and was rated as an excellent service at that inspection. This was followed up with an Annual Service Review in September 2008, and we had no concerns about the home, and evidenced this in the Review. The Inspector has reviewed all the information that the Commission has received, or asked for, since the last Annual Service Review in September 2008. This includes: Formal notifications about things which have happened in the service, which the care home is legally required to send to CQC. The Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA), which was sent in by the service. AQAA is a self assessment that focuses on how well the home is meeting outcomes for people who live there. It also provides detailed information about how the home is running. Information about any concerns or complaints; or referrals to the Social Services Safeguarding Adults department. Details from the last key inspection and report. Relevant information obtained from other organisations. Information obtained from phone calls and letters received since the last inspection. What has this told us about the service? The manager returned the Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA) within the required timescales. It has been very well completed, providing the Commission with relevant and up to date information. The home continues to put the needs and wishes of residents first, ensuring that they are able to express their opinions and ideas. This is facilitated by regular residents meetings, for which minutes are taken, and copied to all residents whether or not they have been able to attend the meeting. An action plan is developed from these discussions, so that agreed ideas can be put into practice. Residents and relatives are invited to complete anonymous surveys each year, and the results of these are collated, and used to initiate further changes. The home also provides a three monthly newsletter, which helps to keep everyone up to date with any changes. Some of the changes implemented during the last year include new carpeting in communal areas, with the colours chosen by the residents; new garden furniture; a new shower/wet room on the first floor, which has a reclining shower chair; and additional benches in the adjacent playing field, which is accessible via the rear gardens. The garden pathways have had new tarmac laid to make them safer to use. All prospective residents have a detailed pre-admission assessment, to ensure that the Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 home will be able to meet the individual needs of each person. A care plan is formed from these initial assessments, and covers all aspects of daily living, such as mobility, nutrition, personal hygiene care, continence, medication and social preferences. At the request of residents and relatives, there is a detailed care plan review for each resident held twice per year, when the resident, their relatives and care managers (if appropriate) are invited to attend. The manager or nursing staff go through each aspect of the care plan to identify any areas where change is needed. The care plans are all reviewed monthly by the nursing staff as well, and the manager carries out an auditing programme. Risk assessments are completed according to individual needs, with an emphasis on enabling residents to retain their independence as much as possible. This may include a risk assessment for self-medication, if a resident wishes to continue to manage this aspect of their care. The home has a GP who is the visiting medical officer, and visits the home once per week, or more often if required. Additional specialist services are obtained for health needs such as physiotherapy, tissue viability nurse or dietician; and the chiropodist and optician make domiciliary visits to the home. The home has two activities assistants, and one volunteer who assists them with activities. They ensure that there is a varied programme of activities and outings available. This includes in-house activities such as quizzes, reminiscence, musical events, exercises, cookery and flower-arranging; as well as trips out for shopping, or to the local pub for lunch, or further afield. During the past year, residents have enjoyed outings to Hastings and Eastbourne; a river trip on the river Medway; and visits to nearby garden centres. The residents choose where they wish to go. Professional entertainers come into the home at regular intervals; and the home has good local community links. This includes having visits from local school children; and church services in the home arranged by the local Church of England. Residents can choose where they wish to sit for meals, and have a choice of menu at each meal time. The menus run on a four weekly cycle, and are changed approximately every three months. Residents are able to put forward their choices to be included on the menus; and the manager and catering staff ensure that menus reflect a varied and healthy diet. The food is home cooked, and is obtained from local sources. The complaints procedure is included in the service users guide, and each resident has a copy of this in their room. There is also a suggestions box in the foyer, so that anyone can make an anonymous complaint or suggestion if they wish to do so. Complaints made during the last year have all been resolved according to the homes own policy and procedures, and within the specified timescales. The premises are well maintained, and provide a clean, safe and comfortable environment for the residents. There are ongoing maintenance checks to ensure that all facilities and equipment are in good working order; and that infection control policies are followed accurately. Residents are encouraged to bring in some of their own items to personalise their own rooms according to choice. The gardens are well cared for, and provide a very pleasant area for residents to sit or walk. Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 Staffing levels are set according to the dependency needs of the residents, and the manager ensures there are sufficient staff for all duties in the home to be carried out efficiently and reliably. Over fifty per cent of the care staff have attained NVQ levels 2 or 3 in health and social care, and all mandatory training is kept up to date. There are good recruitment procedures, and a detailed induction programme. The home holds regular staff meetings, enabling staff to be involved in the ongoing development of the home. All staff have formal one to one supervision sessions every six to eight weeks. There are opportunities for trained nurses to develop their skills and increase their nursing knowledge. The manager has twenty-two years of experience in managing care homes for older people, and is appropriately trained for this role. She keeps up to date with new legislation, and ensures that staff have ongoing training. Records are well maintained and kept up to date. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? The Commission is confident that this home is continuing to operate to an excellent standard, and we will continue to monitor the home through ongoing processes. A key inspection will be carried out by 17th October 2010. However, we can inspect the service at any time, if we have concerns about the quality of the service, or the safety of people using the service. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information
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