Care Home: Oakdale Residential Home

What the care home does well The home has a homely feel to it and the atmosphere is friendly, cheerful and welcoming and relatives say that they are always made to feel welcome. The staff team are well trained and supervised and the home offers consistent care and the regular staff cover any vacant shifts; no agency staff are used at the home. The staff communicate well with the relatives of people living in the home. The home gives people plenty to do and has a good range of activities on offer. People are able to go out in the community and enjoy a meal in a pub. The home provides people with good outside entertainers such as a singer that performs Elvis Presley and Tom Jones songs and he dresses to the part. The families and friends of people living at Oakdale are always invited to attend entertainment sessions. The food at Oakdale is home cooked, healthy and nutritious and the home is good at keeping records of the food provided and eaten. The cook keeps a well run kitchen and makes sure that the cleaning schedule is kept to so the kitchen is clean and tidy. What has improved since the last inspection? The care plan format has been changed and allows for more detailed information and review dates are now recorded in the care plan. All new staff have an eight week induction programme. What the care home could do better: The home should have a protocol in place for all as and when prescribed (PRN) medication so that staff know when, why and how to administer it and the manager should undertake a regular audit of the medication system to ensure that staff have not made any errors. The manager must keep a criminal records bureau (CRB) check for each member of staff until they have been inspected by the CQC and once inspected the manager must keep evidence of this on each staff file. When undertaking a quality assurance survey the manager should obtain the views of professional people that are involved with the home such as GP`s, district nurses, advocates and social workers. Inspecting for better lives Key inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: Oakdale Residential Home 123 Kiln Road Benfleet Essex SS7 1TG     The quality rating for this care home is:   two star good 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 assessment of the service. We call this a ‘key’ inspection. Lead inspector: Pauline Marshall     Date: 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 9 This is a report of an inspection where we looked at how well this care home is meeting the needs of people who use it. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better. We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area. Outcome area (for example Choice of home) These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. that people have said are important to them: They reflect the things This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection. This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor. Evidence: This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement. Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought 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 The Commission for Social Care Inspection aims to: • • • • Put the people who use social care first Improve services and stamp out bad practice Be an expert voice on social care Practise what we preach in our own organisation Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 26 Reader Information Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report CSCI General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright © (2009) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). 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. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. www.cqc.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 26 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: Oakdale Residential Home 123 Kiln Road Benfleet Essex SS7 1TG 01702553734 01702556836 oakdale@1stchoicecarehomes.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Mr Kanagaratnam Rajamenon,Mr Kanagaratnam Rajaseelan care home 27 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 15 27 dementia old age, not falling within any other category Additional conditions: 0 0 Number of service users to whom personal care is to be provided shall not exceed 27 (27). Personal care to be provided to 15 service users over the age of 65 years with Dementia. Personal care to be provided to no more than 27 people over the age of 65 years (OP). Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Oakdale is a large, detached, private care home situated in a residential area of Thundersley. It is relatively close to the main shopping areas of Southend, Rayleigh and Benfleet. Bus routes are close to the home. The property has been adapted to provide accommodation that consists of twentythree single bedrooms and two shared bedrooms. Ten of the single bedrooms have ensuite WC facilities. There are two lounges, one with a dining area; a passenger lift that Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 26 Brief description of the care home provides access to the first floor. The home has a small number of off road parking facilities to the rear of the building. There is also a large well-maintained rear garden, although access without assistance is difficult for many of the people living at the home. The manager provides people interested in living at Oakdale with a copy of her Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide. The weekly charges vary between £390.39 and £700.00. There are additional charges for hairdressing, chiropody, toiletries, newspapers and staff escorts. Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 26 Summary This is an overview of what we found during the inspection. The quality rating for this care home is: Our judgement for each outcome: two star good service Choice of home Health and personal care Daily life and social activities Complaints and protection Environment Staffing Management and administration peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: This was an unannounced key inspection that lasted for nine hours and thirty minutes. The process included talks with the manager, the business development manager, people living in the home, their relatives, a visiting district nurse and some of the homes staff; an inspection of a random sample of files (including those of staff and people living in the home) and some of the records that the home is required to keep. The inspection covered all of the key standards and included a tour of the home. The manager completed her annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) and information from this has been reflected throughout this report. The AQAA is a form required by law for the manager or provider to carry out a self-assessment of how well the outcomes of people using their services are being met. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 26 Surveys were sent to the manager to distribute to ten people who live at the home, ten of their relatives, three GPs, three advocates, four health and social care professionals and twelve care staff. At the time of writing this report we had received two surveys from people that use the service, ten from their relatives, one from a health and social care professional and one from a member of staff. Comments from the surveys have been included in the main body of this report. What the care home does well: What has improved since the last inspection? 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 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.cqc.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@cqc.org.uk or by telephoning our order line –0870 240 7535. Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 26 Details of our findings Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 6) Health and personal care (standards 7 - 11) Daily life and social activities (standards 12 - 15) Complaints and protection (standards 16 - 18) Environment (standards 19 - 26) Staffing (standards 27 - 30) Management and administration (standards 31 - 38) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 26 Choice of home These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them and the support they need. People who stay at the home only for intermediate care, have a clear assessment that includes a plan on what they hope for and want to achieve when they return home. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, or people close to them, have been able to visit the home and have got full, clear, accurate and up to date information about the home. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between them and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People will receive sufficient information about the home to enable them to make an informed choice; their needs will be fully assessed to ensure that they are provided with the appropriate level of support. Evidence: The Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide were last reviewed in September 2008. Both documents contained detailed information about the service the home provides and each of the bedrooms contained a copy. People are given a welcome pack upon admission to the home, which is available in a large print format with additional pictures. People spoken with and surveyed said that the information provided by the home before they moved in was good, and that it helped them to make their choice. We looked at three care files and they all contained a thorough pre-admission Care Homes for Older People Page 10 of 26 Evidence: assessment, which had been carried out by senior staff prior to their admission to the home. The manager said in her annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) the preadmission assessment has been improved with a new pre admission assessment document and we offer people a four week trial period. We spoke to people living in the home and to some of their relatives and they said that the staff visited them in their own home before they moved into Oakdale to carry out their assessment and that there was a four week trial period. One relative said when spoken with I was fully involved in the assessment process and was satisfied that the home could meet my relatives needs. Oakdale does not provide intermediate care. Care Homes for Older People Page 11 of 26 Health and personal care These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People’s health, personal and social care needs are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. If they take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it, in a safe way. People’s right to privacy is respected and the support they get from staff is given in a way that maintains their dignity. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People living in the home receive appropriate health and personal care to meet their assessed needs. The homes medication policy and practice may not always protect people from the potential risk of medication errors. Evidence: The manager said that the format of the care files has changed since the last inspection and that there is now provision to record more information in them. We looked at three care plans and they were all very detailed and included risk assessments for falls, manual handling, pressure area care and mental health. There was a life history on two of the three files examined and a note on the third showing that relatives were assisting the person using the service to complete one. The manager said in her AQAA people who use our service are involved in their plan of care, they give us information on what support they need and the care that is acceptable to them. People spoken with and surveyed confirmed that they were fully involved in the care planning process and one person said when spoken with my key worker explains anything that I dont understand about my care plan and I have been Care Homes for Older People Page 12 of 26 Evidence: involved from the start. One health and social care professional said in their survey person centered care is given at Oakdale and dignity and respect are always maintained and the environment is always one of calm. All of the care files that we examined had been reviewed on a monthly basis with the review date recorded. The daily notes were informative and further information such as weight, fluid and food intake were recorded on charts where necessary. The records showed that people had received appropriate health care; there was details on the three care files examined of optical, dental and chiropody visits as well as GP and district nurses attendance. People spoken with confirmed that they had access to optical, dental and chiropody services. One relative said in their survey my relative is extremely well cared for and has been nursed back to health with care and kind assistance. The medication was stored in a locked trolley in a locked cupboard and the manager said that the senior staff are the only staff that administer medication. The home uses a local pharmacy that delivers the medication every 28 days and it is always checked into the home by either the manager or the deputy manager; all returns are also dealt with by the manager and her deputy. We examined a random sample of the medication and one of the samples examined showed that there was five tablets more than there should have been according to the medication administration sheet (MARS). The manager said that there may have been extra tablets in the box when the person was admitted and that they may not have been recorded on the MARS. As a result of this error the manager has put measures in place to ensure this does not occur again; medication received in the home for new residents is now counted and signed for by two staff. As and when prescribed medication (PRN) did not have any guidance to staff as to when, why and how it was to be given; there must be a protocol available for the administration of all as and when prescribed medication. People using the service said when spoken with that they felt confident of the staff and that staff treated them with dignity and respect and observations of staff interaction with people throughout the day confirmed this. Relatives said in their surveys the service is excellent, my relative is looked after exceptionally well and they are treated with respect. Care Homes for Older People Page 13 of 26 Daily life and social activities These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives. They are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. People have nutritious and attractive meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People are well supported to access appropriate activities that meet their needs, they are fully involved in decision making and are offered a healthy appealing diet. Evidence: The home had a lively atmosphere with visitors coming and going throughout the day, people appeared to be kept occupied and staff interaction was very good. Peoples view on activities varied, some saying that they preferred to sit in their room and read and that they liked to occupy themselves, others said that they like to be fully involved in the group activities; this was documented in their individual care plans. The home employs a dementia trained activities co-ordinator that works four afternoons each week; activities includes memory games-quizzes, reminiscence, sensory stimulation, memorabilia, armchair exercises, board games, music and singalongs. The activities co-ordinator also offers one to one sessions for people that prefer this to the group sessions. The monthly newsletter advises people of forthcoming events; a copy was displayed on the homes notice board. The manager informed us that the activities coordinator sees every person using the service on their admission to the home. People spoken with said that the home offers many activities; one person said there is always something going on, we have singers and we drink wine and someone comes in Care Homes for Older People Page 14 of 26 Evidence: to play the piano. The home has a large garden with a wooden gazebo with tables and chairs and people said when spoken with that they would be using it throughout the summer months. Relatives said when spoken with that they are involved in their relatives lives and that the manager encourages regular contact. People are helped to access the local community and one person spoke of a recent trip out to the seafront; they said that they had a lovely meal. One relative said in their survey there are good organised activities, the manager deserves a medal as she goes beyond the call of duty to raise funds to provide entertainment and trips out. Meetings are held on a regular basis to offer people living in the home the opportunity to air their views. One person said when spoken with I am always asked what I think about what is happening and if I am happy with the food and we have meetings to talk about other issues in the home. The care plans showed that peoples likes and dislikes were recorded and reviewed on a regular basis. Oakdale offers people a four week rolling menu that gives them the options of two different lunchtime and teatime meals. The breakfast menu offers a choice of cereals, porridge, boiled or scrambled eggs, toast, fruit and tea and coffee or people can have a cooked breakfast such as bacon, eggs and beans if they wish. The food is home cooked and the menu included many old time favourites such as chicken casserole, sausage and onions, shepherds pie, fish and chips and roast dinners. The manager said in her AQAA if visitors are in the home at mealtimes they are always offered to stay and have their meals. One relative said in their survey the food is good and I am able to have a meal with my relative if I wish. People spoken with also confirmed that the meals were well cooked and presented and that the dining room was pleasant with table cloths, flowers and soft music playing throughout their meal. The home uses the Food Standard Agencys Safer Food Better Business folder to record its kitchen activities and this was seen to be fully completed. Care Homes for Older People Page 15 of 26 Complaints and protection These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them know how to complain. Any concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse and neglect and takes action to follow up any allegations. People’s legal rights are protected, including being able to vote in elections. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People know that their concerns will be dealt with and that they will be protected from harm and abuse. Evidence: Oakdale has a clear complaints policy and there is a copy displayed on the noticeboard; people spoken with and surveyed were clear on the procedures to follow if they wished to complain. The manager said in her AQAA any new clients are reminded about our complaints procedure verbally and I ask them to communicate with me regarding any problems whether they are big or small and we regard complaints as a way of making things better in our home, and a good way of encouraging communication. We looked at the complaints records and they showed that there had been nine complaints since the last inspection; they had all been dealt with appropriately. There is a comment box together with comment cards in the entrance hall to enable people to make any comments anonymously if they wish to. One relative said in their survey any minor problems are sorted promptly. The home has a procedure for safeguarding adults and provides guidance to staff with regard to whistle blowing. Staff spoken with had a clear understanding of the procedures and explained what they would do if they suspected abuse. The training records showed that all but the most recently employed members of staff had attended safeguarding adults training and on speaking to the manager she confirmed Care Homes for Older People Page 16 of 26 Evidence: that the two new staff were on the list to attend this training at Essex County Council when it next takes place. The manager said that until this takes place the two staff will be completing the in house safeguarding workbook that is used as an update for all staff. Care Homes for Older People Page 17 of 26 Environment These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, pleasant and hygienic. People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People live in a homely, comfortable safe environment. Evidence: We did a tour of the premises and looked at bedrooms, bathrooms, toilets, the kitchen, the dining area, the lounges and the garden. The bedrooms had been personalised and were comfortable and homely, most had new wardrobes, chest of drawers and lockable bedside cabinets. The manager said in her AQAA all people using the service are encouraged to say how they would like their room, whether they would like a different colour, new shelves or furniture moved around; we encourage them to make it home, ensuring it is safe. There is adequate bathing facilities and toilets and there are handrails around the corridors to help people to get around the home. There was signage around the home to show where toilets were located. Since the last inspection some of the doorways have been widened to accommodate electric wheelchairs and some of the bedrooms have been redecorated; most of the bedrooms have new wardrobes, chest of drawers and lockable bedside cabinets. The home has purchased air conditioning units for the dining area and the medication room. We looked at the maintenance book and it showed when jobs had been reported; all of the entries were signed and dated to confirm that the work had been carried out. People spoken with said that the home was always clean and tidy and one person said Care Homes for Older People Page 18 of 26 Evidence: in their survey the home is clean and comfortable, a relative said in their survey the service is excellent, the home is very very clean and does not smell. We received one survey from a relative who said my relative is content and looked after very well but that there is often a strong smell of urine in the dining room and as you enter the front door. There was no odorous smells noticed in any of the communal areas, however, one of the bedrooms we looked at did have a strong odour that the manager said was proving difficult to eradicate. The rest of the home was clean, pleasant and hygienic. Care Homes for Older People Page 19 of 26 Staffing These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable to care for them. Their needs are met and they are cared for by staff who get the relevant training and support from their managers. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People are cared for by a competent, well-trained and supervised staff team, who are safely recruited. Evidence: The rota showed that sufficient staff were on duty to meet the needs of the people living in the home. The manager prepares the rota at two weekly intervals and she said in her AQAA the staffing rota is managed to ensure that adequate staffing is in place to meet peoples needs. Staff said when spoken with that they sometimes worked additional hours to ensure continuity of care for the people living at Oakdale; the rotas we examined showed that some staff work extra hours every week. No agency staff are used at the home and the manager said that the regular staff cover any vacant shifts. Eleven of the fourteen staff employed at the home have achieved their NVQ level 2 or above care qualification. We examined three of the staff files and found that they contained all of the required documents with the exception of criminal records bureau checks (CRB). The manager said that CRB checks had been made and as part of the homes last inspection she was informed by the inspector that they should be destroyed. We advised the manager to obtain the CQC guidance and to ensure that all original CRB forms are kept until inspected and then to keep evidence of them on the staff files. One of the staff files Care Homes for Older People Page 20 of 26 Evidence: contained an application form that showed a gap in employment and the manager had explored this gap with the staff member and recorded the outcome of the conversation in the staff file. The manager said that if a person starts work prior to receipt of their criminal records bureau (CRB) check, they do not do so without a POVA 1st check; there was evidence of a POVA 1st check on two of the newest staff files. We looked at the managers training matrix and this showed the training that staff had completed and it clearly identified when updates were required. The manager said that training is obtained from both Southend and Essex Councils and that she uses a workbook system of training for updating the staff. The staff files contained evidence that staff had undertaken training in the past year in various topics, which included food hygiene, first aid, manual handling, medication, infection control, dementia person centred care, health and safety and diet and nutrition. The home has also provided training in more service specific subjects such as stoma and bowel care, pressure area care, heart failure, diabetes, continence, vital signs and observations, catheter care, epilepsy, risk and conflict management and customer services. Care Homes for Older People Page 21 of 26 Management and administration These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have confidence in the care home because it is led and managed appropriately. People control their own money and choose how they spend it. If they or someone close to them cannot manage their money, it is managed by the care home in their best interests. The environment is safe for people and staff because appropriate health and safety practices are carried out. People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. The people staying at the home are safeguarded because it follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and ensures their staff understand the way things should be done. They get the right care because the staff are supervised and supported by their managers. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. People will live in a well run home that is run in their best interests. Evidence: The registered manager has twenty-nine years experience in caring for people and has obtained her NVQ level 3 in care and the registered managers award; she is currently working on My Home Life which is a continuing training programme. The deputy manager has an NVQ level 3 in care qualification and is a qualified midwife and general nurse in her home country. The manager is supported by the business development manager who carries out regular visits to the home under regulation 26. One health and social care professional said in their survey I have a very good working relationship with the manager and I have witnessed scenes of confusion by elderly residents with dementia being dealt with by well trained and well mannered staff, which gives confidence to those residents that are not involved. The survey went on to say I have no problems with this home being one in a list that I might give to family, friends, service users or clients. Care Homes for Older People Page 22 of 26 Evidence: The home carries out its own quality assurance survey and sends questionnaires to people using the service and their relatives each year; the last survey was carried out in May 2009 and the manager prepares a report together with an action plan to address any issues that have arisen. A discussion took place about involving professionals such as GPs, district nurses, advocates and social workers in the homes quality assurance process to enable them to give their views on the service that the home provides and the manager said that they would be included in the next survey. The manager completed her annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) fully and returned it to us by the required date and it provided us with the information that we had asked for. We examined a random sample of the cash and cash transaction records belonging to people living in the home and we found them to be accurate and up to date. The three staff files that we examined showed that regular supervision takes place and staff spoken with confirmed this. One staff member said we are able to discuss any issues at any time with the manager, we do not have to wait until supervision and we also have staff meetings where we discuss issues. We looked at a random sample of safety certificates and they were all in place and up to date. Fire records were well maintained and there was evidence that regular fire drills take place and staff spoken with were fully aware of the procedures. Care Homes for Older People Page 23 of 26 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, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 24 of 26 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, Care Homes 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 1 9 13 The manager must ensure that there are protocols in place for all as and when required (PRN) medication. To ensure that people are protected from any potential medication errors. 31/07/2009 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 1 9 It is recommended that you continue to make regular audits of the medication system to ensure that people are protected from any potential medication errors. It is recommended that the manager seeks the views of others such as GPs, district nurses, advocates and social workers as part of the homes quality assurance process to ensure that the views of professionals that are involved with the home are sought. 2 33 Care Homes for Older People Page 25 of 26 Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 or Textphone: or 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. Copyright © (2009) Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). 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. The material should be acknowledged as CSCI copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Older People Page 26 of 26 - 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. 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