Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 13th May 2010. CQC found this care home to be providing an Excellent service.
The inspector found no outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report,
but made 1 statutory requirements (actions the home must comply with) as a result of this inspection.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Stichell House.
What the care home does well People who live here said that they are always treated with respect. They said, "Its like a family" and "Its a lovely place to live." The home works well with health care services to make sure that people get good support with their health care needs. The home is part of the local village life and people have good contact with their local community. There is a good range of activities for people, and people can lead their own lifestyle. The home is very well equipped and fully accessible by the people who live here. The standard of accommodation is excellent, and the home is set in beautiful grounds which residents make good use of. Staff have good training so they know how to support the people in a safe way. The home is run in the best interests of the people who live here, and with their involvement. What the care home could do better: It would be better if each person`s needs were set down in a plan of care so that staff know how to support a person in the same consistent way. It would be better if nutritional assessments were carried with every resident, from admission, and that weight records for all residents were regularly checked. Consideration should be given to making bathrooms more inviting, in keeping with the rest of the home`s excellent decor. It would also be better if there were bathroom cupboards to store plastic aprons and towels. Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Stichell House Hospital Of God At Greatham Greatham Hartlepool TS25 2HS three star excellent service The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: 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. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed review of the service. Details of how to get other inspection reports for this care home, including the last key inspection report, can be found on the last page of this report. Lead inspector: Andrea Goodall Date: 1 3 0 5 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Stichell House Hospital Of God At Greatham Greatham Hartlepool TS25 2HS 01429870247 01429871469 gail.defty@hospitalofgod.org.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Ms Margaret Ann Clark Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : The Master and Brethren of the Hospital of God at Greatham care home 35 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 35 old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 35 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care Home only - Code PC, to service users of the following gender: Either, whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following categories: Old Age, not falling within any other category - Code OP. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Stitchell House is a home for thirty-five older people. It is purpose built with all bedrooms having en-suite accommodation. The home has specially equipped bathrooms and showers to support people whose mobility may be limited. The rooms
Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 Brief description of the care home for communal use include the sitting room, dining room and multi purpose room. There are several seating areas throughout the home. The home is on three floors with lift and stair access to all floors. The home has beautiful views over farm lands and woods. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found:
Before the visit we looked at information we have received since the last key inspection visit on 9th May 2007 and the last annual service review on 20th April 2009. We looked at any changes to how the home is run. We asked the Provider for their view of how well they care for people in their AQAA (an annual quality assurance assessment). We received surveys from nine residents and nine staff. We made an unannounced visit to the home on 13th May 2010. During the visit we talked with people who use the service, their relatives, the manager and staff, and visitors. We looked at how staff support the people who live here. We looked at information about the people who use the service and how well their needs are met. Care plans are records that are used by all care services to show what sort of help each person needs and how staff will provide that care. The care files at Stitchell House contain a lot of information, and include peoples abilities as well as their assessed needs. However not everyones assessed needs are set down in a plan of care. In this way staff do not have written guidance in how to support people with their specific care needs in a consistent way. Also some peoples assessed capabilities have changed but their risk assessments have not yet been updated. For example one person is now no longer responsible for looking after her own medication, but the risk assessment still indicates that they self-administer (although medication records have been changed). Also several people do not have nutritional assessments in place, and weight records are only sporadically recorded. The manager said that only people who are identified as at risk have a nutritional assessment. However in this way the home does not have a clear reference point to check whether people are losing or gaining weight. Residents had many positive comments about the service they receive at Stitchell House. For example on person said, Were very well looked after. Ive been part of this home for many years and its because Im so well cared for here. The staff are like family to me and they are lovely. Other residents comments included the staff are very kind, and the girls are really nice. The home now employs two activity staff and people have good opportunities to enjoy activities inside the home. The local council has provided the home with a Wi system so that residents can enjoy a number of gentle exercises and games. Residents confirmed that the activity staff ask them individually if they would like to join in any forthcoming activity. People also spoke in a very positive way about their enjoyment of going for short walks around the homes beautiful grounds or enjoying sitting in the garden areas watching the local wildlife. The home holds a Bingo club each Thursday for several ladies from the local village to attend. At the time of this visit the visitors had brought several old photographs and pictures of the village which people could reminisce over. In this way residents have continued contact with their local community. Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 People had positive comments about the quality of meals at this home. At this time people do not have a copy of the menus, and their menu choices are requested verbally two days in advance. Many people would have changed their minds within the two days and some will have forgotten their choices. In this way people cannot make an informed decision about their menu choices in a timely way, eg on the day of the meal. However the cook confirmed that after the new menus are developed, menu cards will be placed in the dining room for residents information. The home offers an excellent standard of accommodation for residents. All bedrooms are spacious, warm, well decorated and equipped, with good sized en-suites. All the bedrooms have very good views over the gardens and surrounding countryside. Many people have brought their own furniture, pictures and ornaments so bedrooms are highly personalised and individual. In this way people said that their bedrooms are like their own home from home. The home offers a good range of sitting areas on each of the three floors. There are also well-equipped small kitchens on each floor for residents or their visitors to make drinks and snacks. The corridors are wide and bright, with small seated areas at intervals. There is very good access into and around all parts of the building including the garden area. The garden is set out in mature grounds with patio areas, pergola and a range of good garden furniture for people to use. Some bedrooms on the lower ground floor have french windows that open out onto the garden. People living on other floors can access the gardens via a lift to the lower ground floor. There are bathrooms on each floor, all of which are well-equipped and functional. One has a very specialist bathing facility for people with significant physical or mobility needs, but this is rarely used. Other bathrooms have standard large baths with chair hoists to help people get into them. However all bathrooms are large rooms that are painted a very cool blue, have no cosmetic features, and have plastic protective aprons on display. In this way bathrooms appear clinical and uninviting, which is at odds with the rest of the homes warm, homely accommodation. In surveys and discussion people felt that there were usually sufficient staff on duty to attend to them. At the time of this visit staff were friendly, supportive and respectful in their interactions with residents and visitors. The home enjoys a relatively low turnover of staff and several staff have worked at the home for many years which supports good continuity of care. Staff surveys were very positive about the excellent care we strive to achieve, and staff commented, It is a pleasure to come to work everyday. It is excellent practice that out of 35 care, domestic and relief staff all but two have achieved a national care qualification (called NVQ level 2 or 3). It is also excellent practice that all staff (including auxiliary and administrative staff) are working through a Dementia Awareness course so that they will have an understanding of how to support people with dementia-type needs. The home has continued to make improvements to the service for the people who live here, and discussions with the manager and responsible individual showed that the home is committed to continuous development and improvement for the benefit of the people who live here. For example it is excellent practice that the home has achieved the Gold Standards Framework accreditation. This means that the home works in partnership with
Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 9 health care services to make sure that people can have end of life care at Stitchell House. People have more opportunities to be involved in running the home, for example some residents have been involved in interviewing staff. Residents have their own meetings which are minuted by a resident. One resident publishes a monthly newsletter for other residents and their visitors. The cook has involved residents in tasting sessions and their views will help to develop new menus. People are involved in choosing the colour schemes and furnishings for their own bedrooms. What the care home does well: 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 2. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 9 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, Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 9 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, 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 7 15 Each persons assessed needs must be set out in a care plan. This is to ensure that staff have the guidance to support people with their care needs in a consistent way. 31/07/2010 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 8 Nutritional assessments should be carried out for all residents on admission, and regular weight records taken to check their on-going nutritional health. Consideration should be given to improving the cosmetic appearance of bathrooms to provide a welcoming environment for people when they bathe. Bathrooms would also benefit from bathroom cabinets for storing plastic aprons and other personal protective equipment. 2 21 Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 9 Reader Information
Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report Care Quality Commission General Public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. Copies of the National Minimum Standards –Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or got 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 Helpline: Telephone: 03000 616161 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. © Care Quality Commission 2010 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part in any format or medium for noncommercial purposes, provided that it is reproduced accurately and not used in a derogatory manner or in a misleading context. The source should be acknowledged, by showing the publication title and © Care Quality Commission 2010. Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 9 - 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. Discrete codes and changes have been inserted throughout the textual data shown on the site that will provide incontrovertable proof of copying in the event this information is re-published on other websites. The policy of www.bestcarehome.co.uk is to use all legal avenues to pursue such offenders, including recovery of costs. You have been warned!
