Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 24th February 2010. 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 Good.
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 Southwell Court.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Southwell Court The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 1 0 1 1 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: Alison Hilton Date of this annual service review: 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service
Address of service: Hinkins Close Melbourn Near Royston Hertfordshire SG8 6JL 01763262121 01763262989 Southw@grantahousing.org.uk www.grantahousing.org.uk Granta Housing Society Limited Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 0 0 1 35 One named individual in the category LD(E) for the duration of their residency only Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the Yes 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 Southwell Court is a home for older people. It is owned by Granta Housing Society and is situated on a modern housing estate in the village of Melbourn on the Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire border. Accommodation is on two floors. People who live in the home are accommodated in 35 single bedrooms, all with en-suite toilet and washbasin. The home is divided into six flats, accommodating either five or six people. Each flat has a sitting/dining area, a kitchenette and an assisted bathroom. The ground floor bedrooms open onto a patio area. A shaft lift or stairs provide access to the first floor. All bedrooms on this floor have access to a covered
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 None. 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 8 balcony. There is a large lounge on the ground floor, an activities room and a hairdressing room. The home has large attractive gardens with a pond and seating area. The inspection reports are available in the foyer of Southwell Court. The charges made are available from the home on request. 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 inspection completed on 10/11/2008. This included:1. The Annual Quality Assurance Assessment (AQAA) that was sent to us by the manager. The AQAA is a self-assessment that focuses on how well outcomes are being met for people living in the home. It also gave us some numerical information about the service. 2. Surveys returned to us by people living in the home, carers working in the home and health professionals who visit the home. 3. The previous inspection. What has this told us about the service? The manager sent us the completed AQAA when we asked for it. It was clear and gave us the necessary information. We looked at the information and our judgement is that the manager and staff are still providing a good service. Two surveys were received from health professionals who visit the home. They commented that peoples health care needs were usually monitored, reviewed and met by the staff in the home. They also indicated that the managers and staff usually have the right skills and experience to support peoples health care needs. Two surveys were received from staff working at the home. They commented that the home gives a good service and the home provides a good standard of care with a choice of foods, and encourages residents to join in daily activities. They said that the recruitment of staff is slow, which means there is a high use of agency staff. One said they would like to see staff recruited who already hold a National Vocational Qualification in Care at Level 3 so that people living in the home receive good standards of care. One felt there was usually enough staff ,the other that sometimes this was the case. Both knew what to do if they or someone else had concerns about the home. Both indicated they received the training necessary to meet the needs of people living in the home. We received 11 surveys from people who live in the home. Comments made in these included staff keep me informed but they could spend more time with me, they are always in a rush; more availability of staff at certain times of the day like mealtimes and evenings; the home provides good food and considers the residents needs in terms of wanting personal belongings and likes and dislikes. Arrange good entertainment and activities at festive periods and provide weekly hairdresser; they look after you and general care good but jeopardised by shortage of carers. Details in the AQAA showed that staff continue to provide escort for those living in the home to attend their appointments at the hospital, GP surgery etc. and this means there are Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 less staff on the floor. Other areas where the home could do better were around food and activities. Some people would like more traditional meals and activities could be more imaginative. One person commented, age does not make you more stupid or in less need of stimulation. Outside contacts to come in and talk to people or give talks would, they felt, be a positive activity. One person was concerned that the mobile library had been withdrawn from the home by the library service. We spoke to the assistant manager who said this was the case but there was a person who visited the home and then collected books from the library on behalf of people living in Southwell Court known as a doorstep delivery service. It was acknowledged that people did not have the same choice but a service was being provided. The AQAA stated that the home wishes to continue to enhance the activities programme available to the residents, and further questionnaires may be issued to the residents so that they can say what they would like to see included in any programme of activities. Details in the AQAA showed that all care staff had been trained by the dieticians in the use of the new (MUST) nutritional screening tool. This should improve the screening for people who live in the home and ensure appropriate referrals are made. The home has introduced a report document, which has worked well and improved the continuity of the care plans, as well as providing evidence of monitoring and support of the work completed by key-workers. The AQAA showed the home has produced a respite care, care plan which is a shortened, concise care plan for people admitted to the home for short respite periods. The home is therefore able to evidence how it meets this requirement, while not producing the large, lengthy care plans which are in place for the permanent residents. Following a monitoring inspection visit from a placing authority, the home has commenced a double signature protocol for all transactions involving residents monies, in order to reinforce the checking and auditing of their money. The AQAA stated the manager hoped that the two bathroom refurbishments planned for last year, will go ahead in 2010. This will enhance the quality of life for people living upstairs by enabling them to have a shower facility on their floor, rather than having to go to one of the downstairs bathrooms. There are plans for some internal re-decoration of the home to take place over the winter months and further improvements after April 2010. Quotes are being sought for this. The AQAA showed that it is planned to replace one bedroom carpet with washable carpet tiles in an attempt to reduce the potential for odours. This will be done with the residents (and relatives) consent. If successful it may be repeated in another room to try and reduce the problem of odour which was noted in the last inspection report. Quotes are also being sought for new carpeting in the communal areas. Details in the AQAA showed that some of the policies and procedures had not been reviewed or updated (some since 1997). We spoke to the assistant manager and
Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 received an e mail from the manager showing that Grantas policies are all being reviewed in line with the parent companies, Metropolitan Housing Partnership (MHP) and Metropolitan Support Trust (MST). The understanding with regard to Policy Reviews is that they are reviewed on a 4 yearly basis and that this has been acceptable in the past. The manager confirmed that COSHH is looked at yearly and there have been no recent changes. The Health and Safety group is reviewing the policy and the information contained in the COSHH folders. The new updated version is expected to be in place by April 2010. MEDICATION POLICY - was reviewed in 2006 and again in 2009 but not yet re-issued as it forms part of the overall policy review underway with MHP. HEALTH AND SAFETY - Main Granta policy is reviewed every 2 years - Last reviewed in Sept 2008. The local policy is reviewed on an annual basis. The new H&S manager for MHP is currently looking to review all H&S policies across the partnership. The Commission has received Regulation 37 reports about incidents that have taken place in the home. We have not received any complaints about the home. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? As a result of this annual service review (ASR) we are not going to change our inspection plan. We will undertake a key inspection before 10/11/2011. We can inspect at any time if we have concerns about the quality of the service being provided, or the safety of those living in the home. Annual Service Review Page 6 of 7 Reader Information
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