Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 1st October 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 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 Strathmore House.
Annual service review
Name of Service: Strathmore House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: two star good service 2 5 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: Wendy Jones Date of this annual service review: 0 9 1 0 2 0 0 9 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 7 Information about the service
Address of service: Strathmore House, 27 Queens Park Avenue Stoke-On-Trent Staffs ST3 4AU 01782596849 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:
strathmore.house@craegmoor.co.uk Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Strathmore Care Services Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 16 0 The registered person may provide the following category/ies 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: Learning disability - Code LD (16) The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 16 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 Strathmore House provides residential care for up to 16 adults aged 18 to 65 of both genders with learning disabilities. Strathmore House aims to offer people who use the service a range of opportunities, both in house and through their activity in the community. All individuals are encouraged to take an active role in life and whilst at Strathmore House, all are encouraged and supported by staff to develop their independent living skills. Strathmore House is owned by the Craegmoor group, which has many other services
Annual Service Review Page 2 of 7 2 5 1 1 2 0 0 8 nationally. It is located in a suburban area close to local amenities and with easy access to the city. The house faces a large park and there is space for car parking. The service user guide does not contain information about the range of fees and charges for the service. The provider should be contacted for this information. 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 or annual service review. 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 them to. It was clear and gave us most of the information we asked for but could have been more detailed. We looked at the information in the AQAA and our judgement is that the home is still providing a good service and that they know what further improvements they need to make. We asked the service to tell us what it does well and have been told that, We promote choice and independence for all service users. Provide a wide variety of social and recreational activities. Maintain positive relationships with service users, families and relevant others. Offer encouragement and support to service users to find and keep appropriate work placements and college courses. We also asked what improvements have been made since the last key inspection visit, the service has told us, Current staff team are 100 compliant with mandatory training requirements. Ongoing improvements to environment. When we asked the service what it could do better it told us that, Continue to look at ways to improve the service for all service users. Ongoing work to maintain and improve the environment. Make more of our documentation understandable to service users by working with Craegmoor Quality Development Team. Annual Service Review Page 4 of 7 In terms of Equality and Diversity the service has told us in the AQAA that, Each person using the service has a person centred care plan (pccp). These are designed to enable each individual to identify their own choices, beliefs and work toward future goals. Staff can use the pccp as a tool to provide a service to meet individual needs. Staff receive training in Equality and Diversity every 2 years as a minimum. Continue to promote input from local advocacy services. We have received five surveys from people using the service. When we asked what the service does well, one person said, I cant think of anything. Another said, The service does everything well, but we need a new washing machine and better quality food. We get good care, but we need better quality food and have been without a washing machine for 6 weeks. They look after me properly, but Id like better activities and alot more of them and better quality food. I also want a washing machine that works so I can do my own washing. We have spoken to the manager of the service about these areas of concern. She has responded to this report saying, All service users are encouraged to assist with menu planning. There is a food comments book which is regularly completed by service users. This comments book contains no negative comments relating to the food that is served. This same comment is used word for word on at least 3 of the questionnaires which suggests it is not a true service user comment. The home does work with a food budget and sources food from a variety of outlets including supermarkets, local farm shop and the local abattoir. We prepare meals from fresh ingredients and try not to use convenience or processed foods. The manager has also stated that, At the time of completing the questionnaires the home had been without a washing machine for 3 weeks as we were in the process of changing from a domestic washing machine to a commercial one. This required site visits from the supplier and changes to be made to the plumbing - including moving a sink. Service users were made aware of the changes being made. All service users washing was being completed using facilities in other local homes. The washing machine is now installed. We have received two staff surveys, comments include, We have a good staff team who work well together, to provide support to people using the service and their families. We could improve the service by having more money for food, and by the staff rosters being completed more then one week in advance, because short notice can cause problems. We could do with better support from the manager. All staff would like to advance our National Vocational Qualifications, but dont seem to get the support to do this. The manager has responded to these comments saying, We have 75 of the staff team with a minimum of NVQ 2. There are 3 staff currently waiting to enrol. A relative said, The service allows people using the service to have choices, but should show more fairness between them. They dont like us to be involved when our relative cant sort out their own problems.
Annual Service Review Page 5 of 7 The service has told us in the AQAA that, Staff are aware of and adhere to Company policy and procedures relating to complaints. The complaints procedure is displayed on the notice board. A pictorial complaints procedure is available to service users. People using the service confirmed in the surveys that they know what to do if they have a complaint and who to go to. We have not received complaint about this service, but they have told us that they have received one since the last key inspection visit and that this has now been resolved. We are aware that the service has made one safeguarding referral in the last 12 months, they have also told us about this. We also ask services to send us notifications of significant events/incidents or serious accidents, we have received one notification of this type. But we have noted in the AQAA that 2 people using the service have received treatment at the accident and emergency department of the local hospital. And we dont have a record of being notified about each of these events, we have spoken to the manager about this. 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 24th 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
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