Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 21st September 2010. CQC found this care home to be providing an Good service.
The inspector found there to be outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report but made no statutory requirements on the home.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for Sunningdale House.
What the care home does well People living at the home who wish to and are able can choose to self-administer medication helping to support their independence. What the care home could do better: Medicines record keeping needs to improve to better support and evidence the safe administration of medicines. Where medicines are self-administered there needs to be clear written information about how this is supported. Better checks need to be carried out when people first come to the service, or when medicine unexpectedly change, to ensure people`s medicines can be safely administered. Random inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: Sunningdale House Dene Road Hexham Northumberland NE46 1HW two star good service 19/11/2009 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: Stephanie West Date: 2 1 0 9 2 0 1 0 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: Sunningdale House Dene Road Hexham Northumberland NE46 1HW 01434606767 01434607010 sunningdalehouse@schealthcare.co.uk www.schealthcare.co.uk Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): Name of registered manager (if applicable) Mrs Christina Nichol Type of registration: Number of places registered: Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Southern Cross Care Homes No 2 Limited care home 48 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 48 old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 48 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, maximum number of places 48. Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home Sunningdale House is a purpose built three-storey building situated on the outskirts of Hexham. The home is built on a hill. There is access to landscaped gardens and patio areas on each level. There are two double rooms available for those who wish to share
Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 9 1 9 1 1 2 0 0 9 Brief description of the care home and all rooms have en-suite facilities. Many of the bedrooms in the home have doors, which give access to the garden area. There are lounges and dining rooms on each floor and other quiet sitting areas are located around the home. Local shops, cafes, transport and other amenities are within walking distance. Sunningdale House can accommodate frail elderly service users. The home does not provide nursing care. The cost of the service varies per week dependant on financial assessment. Information is available for new and prospective service users, which outlines services provided in the home. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 9 What we found:
This visit was carried out to look at the arrangements for the safe handling of medication following receipt of a concern in this area. The visit lasted approximately five and a half hours and involved discussing the handling of medication with senior staff and the acting manager, and examination of the medicine records and storage arrangements. This visit focused on medicines handling, other areas and requirements were not examined on this occasion. At the end of the inspection feedback was given to the acting manager. Overall, we found that although generally suitable arrangements were in place for handling peoples medicines there were some weaknesses that need to be addressed to help ensure peoples health and well-being is best protected. We looked at medicines administration. People can choose to manage their own medication if they wish to and are able. Two people spoken with were happy to be managing some of their own medication. But, written assessments and care plans were not completed, this needs to be addressed to help identify any support people may need to manage their medicines safely. Peoples medicines needs are considered when they are away from the home, but we found that agreed arrangements were not recorded. This is important to help ensure that medicines are supplied in the safest and best way for each period of absence from the home. We compared a sample of medicines stocks and records and with the exception of a rare discrepancy; we were able to account for (track) medicines handling in the home. The pre-printed medication administration records were generally up-to-date but some also listed several medicines that were no longer prescribed. These had been crossed through by staff at the home. Advice needs to be sought from the supplying pharmacist about keeping the pre-printed records up-to-date to reduce the risk of mistakes when administering medicines. We looked at how care plans supported the safe use of medicines. We saw that medicines were normally discussed before people come to live at the home. But, it was of concern to find that current medication had not been confirmed with the prescriber for someone who had recently come to the home. One medicine brought into the home had been prescribed several months ago. It is important to confirm and maintain a complete and accurate list of current medication for each person to support safe medicines administration. We were concerned that there was generally a lack of clear guidance for staff about the use of medicines prescribed when required about when they may be needed, and how this need is made known. This needs to be addressed to ensure consistency in their use, when needed. Similarly, there was a lack of information about the use of prescribed external preparations (e.g. creams). We saw that records of healthcare professional advice were generally made within peoples care plans. But, we found two examples where unexpected changes to peoples medicines had not been queried or confirmed by staff at the home. Unexpected changes to peoples medicines need to be confirmed to help ensure peoples health and wellbeing is best protected. We found that medicines including controlled drugs were generally stored securely. This helps to ensure that they are not misused or mishandled. But, there was one medicine with a limited life on opening that needed to be sent for safe disposal and if needed, a new supply ordered. Medicines with a reduced life on opening should be clearly marked to
Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 9 help ensure they are disposed of on time. There was also some inconsistency in storing prescribed creams, with some being kept in peoples own rooms and others in the medicines trolley. This needs to be addressed to ensure creams are handled safely and can be accounted for. The acting manager had carried out an initial audit of medicines handling, but this had not identified some of the weaknesses seen at our visit. It is important that wide medicines audits continue to help ensure that should any shortfalls arise, they can be promptly addressed. 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 5 of 9 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes R No £ 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 1 26 13 All waste bins must be foot operated. This will help to contain and control the spread of infection. 01/01/2010 2 38 13 The gas system must be checked annually and the safety certificate made available. This verifies that the gas systems within the home are safe. 01/01/2010 Care Homes for Older People Page 6 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 9 13 Complete, clear and accurate 25/10/2010 lists of currently prescribed medication and the time and date of administration must be maintained for people living at the service. to help ensure medicines are safely administered as prescribed. 2 9 13 Where people choose to self- 25/10/2010 administer medication assessments need to be completed and any support needed recorded. Where medicines are supplied for administration away from the home agreed arrangements should be recorded and monitored. to help ensure people always receive any help they may need to safely manage their medicines. Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 9 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 Where medicines are prescribed for use when required there should be written guidance for staff to help ensure consistency in their use, when needed. There should be supporting information about the use of prescribed external preparations such as creams; where, and when they may be needed to help ensure they are used correctly. 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!
