Care Home: Larks Leas

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Annual service review Name of Service: Larks Leas 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: Annie Foot Date of this annual service review: 0 9 1 1 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service Address of service: Milldown Road Blandford Dorset DT11 7DE 01258452777 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   admin@larksleas.co.uk www.larksleas.co.uk Castle Farm Care Limited Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 24 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is 24 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care home only - Code PC to service users of either gender whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following category: Old age, not falling within any other category (Code 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 Larks Leas is a detached property on a main road approximately half a mile from the centre of Blandford where there are shops, a post office and churches. Larks Leas is close to the local hospital and a GP surgery. The home is on two floors and there are two passenger lifts. There are a variety of aids and adaptations around the building to allow residents to move about more independently. All 22 rooms are used as single rooms although the home is registered Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 to accommodate a maximum of 24 people in twenty single and two double rooms. Some bedrooms have direct access to the rear terrace and patio areas. With one exception all bedrooms have en suite toilet facilities. There is an additional communal bathroom and toilet facilities on the ground and first floors. Laundering of clothing and household linen is carried out at the home and arrangements can be made for chiropodists, opticians and other health and social care professionals to visit individual residents. The home has a fully enclosed rear garden, and car parking at the front of the home. The fees range from £350 to £525 per person per week. Up to date fee information may be obtained from the service. Information regarding the subjects Value for Money and Fair Terms in Contracts can be obtained from the web link: www.oft.gov.uk A report entitled Care Homes in the UK - A Market Study is available on web link http:/www.oft.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5362CA9D-764D-4636-A4B1A65A7AFD347B/0/oft780.pdf 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 which took place on 12 November 2007 and the annual service review completed on 12 November 2008. This included: The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) that was sent 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. Surveys returned to us by people using the service and from other people with an interest in the service. 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. What other people have told us about the service. What has this told us about the service? The home sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it. It was clear and detailed and gave us all the information we asked for. We also received several completed surveys from people living at the home. Everyone is positive in their comments about the home, which include: the home makes me welcome and is concerned out my welfare. I am very happy here, and, the home gives excellent care, I consider (the home) is first class. Surveys confirm that people receive sufficient information about the home prior to making a decision to move in. Residents are provided with written terms and conditions. The AQAA reports that the home has found that the best time for prospective residents to visit is to arrive late morning and stay for lunch and the afternoon, which gives people a real insight into the home and what is on offer. Residents say that staff are usually available when needed and that they listen and act on what is said . The staff are always pleasant and helpful. Over the last year care plans have continued to be regularly updated. People responding to our surveys say that they are always receive the medical care and support they need. Surveys received from health care professionals confirm that the Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 homes assessment arrangements ensure that accurate information is gathered and that the right service is planned monitored and reviewed. They also confirm that staff respect individuals privacy and dignity. Life histories are now included with assessment documentation. The AQAA reports that a practical and theoretical internal medicine assessment has been introduced in the last year. The home provides a varied activity programme which includes the opportunity for residents to learn new skills e.g pottery and cookery. Respondents to our surveys tell us that there are always plenty of activities and entertainments available. Supplies of fresh reading books are supplied. Music, movement and percussion therapy has been provided over the year. Holistic therapy massage has been introduced to promote physical and mental stimulation, particularly for those with dementia. The home has a clear and accessible complaints procedure illustrating timescales and how complaints are dealt with. The policy has been updated in the last year and is accessible to everyone. This was confirmed through our surveys, by people saying that they know who to talk to if they have any concerns or wish to make a complaint. No complaints were received in the last year. As a result of listening to what people at the home say a number of improvements and changes have been made at the home. These include, changing menus as a result of residents watching TV cookery programmes and due to overwhelming response, new items have been added to the menu. The fresh vegetables are now served with meals rather than separately. Improving Meals for Older people in Care home is utilised. The home is maintained to a high standard with a programme of routine maintenance in place. Changes to the environment have included, new outdoor seating and more umbrellas purchased. The main hallway has been re decorated to give a lighter feel to the entrance and the laundry has been reorganised and new blinds in the dining room and lounge fitted, chosen by the residents. 8 full time and 6 part time care staff are employed at the home. 5 non care staff are employed. There are 14 permanent care staff of which 7 have achieved an NVQ level 2 or above. There is a low staff turnover and no staff have left their employment at the home in the last year. A revised staff induction package has been introduced in the last year. Senior carer training and induction has been enhanced by the introduction of an internal medicine assessment to be used in conjunction with external training. All staff receive induction training, malnutrition care and in the prevention and control of infection. Regular team meetings include Air and Share sessions to promote team work. New staff contracts are currently being issued to keep in line with current legislation. We received 6 completed surveys from staff employed at the home. These tell us that Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 staff receive up to date information about the needs of the people they support. They also confirm that staff receive induction training and other training relevant to their role. Team work is reported to be strong. One person commented, the staff have the full support of others in the home. Another says, our manager ensures that teamwork is achieved at all times. The home is supportive in our learning and development to enhance our skills to be put into action effectively. Staff say that the manager meets with regularly to provide support, share information and to discuss working practice. Staff say that the home, makes residents feel that still have a purpose in life and ensure that they have dignity and individuality and , gives care, compassion and comfort. In the last year the home has achieved the Investors in People Award. Policies and procedures in operation at the home were all reviewed during 2009. There were 10 new admissions and 4 short term admissions in the last year. The home continues to let us know about things that have happened since our last key inspection and they have shown that they have managed issues well. They work well with us and have shown us that their service continues to provide good outcomes for the people who use it. There is no evidence to indicate that outcomes for people who use the service have changed since the last inspection of the service. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan, and will do a key inspection by 12 November, 2010. However, 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 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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