Care Home: The Brambles

What the care home does well This random inspection focused on specific matters explained above and all aspects ofthe home were not assessed. However we saw that all parts of the home were well decorated and maintained and provided a pleasant and comfortable environment for people. Also the residents spoke highly of the staff and said they were kind and caring. What the care home could do better: As stated above this inspection focused on specific matters. Of the parts of life in the home that were assessed it was found that the staff recruitment procedures could be improved to help protect people from unsuitable staff, and also that the staffs` knowledge of what to do in the event of an allegation or suspicion of abuse could be improved. This is important so that correct procedures are followed to help ensure that residents are protected from harm. Inspecting for better lives Random inspection report Care homes for older people Name: Address: The Brambles Park Avenue New Longton Lancashire PR4 4AY two star good 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 assessment of the service. We call this a ‘key’ inspection. This is a report of a random inspection of this care home. A random inspection is a short, focussed inspection. 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: Pat White Date: 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 9 Information about the care home Name of care home: Address: The Brambles Park Avenue New Longton Lancashire PR4 4AY 01772614533 01772614595 info@thebramblesresthome.co.uk 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) : Miss Karpal Kaur,Mr Harbhajan Singh care home 32 Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 32 old age, not falling within any other category Conditions of registration: 0 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 The maximum number of Service Users who can be accommodated is: 32 Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home The Brambles provides 24-hour personal care and accommodation for up to 32 older people, it is privately owned. The Brambles is a detached residence, situated in a residential area of New Longton, Preston. Local shops and other amenities are close by. The home has recently been extended and has had a major refurbishment. All the bedrooms have ensuite facilities Care Homes for Older People Page 2 of 10 Brief description of the care home and communal areas are varied and spacious. The home has a passenger lift for easy access to the first floor. There are assisted bathrooms available on all floors. The Brambles is set in one and a half acres of grounds, which are mainly grassed areas with woods to the rear and side. Landscaping is currently taking place and will provide pleasant garden areas for resident to use. There was written information about the home for residents, relatives and prospective residents, that told people about the services, facilities and staff. Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 10 What we found: The purpose of this Random Inspection, undertaken on the 3rd February 2009, was to investigate some matters of concern that came to our notice whilst completing an Annual Service Review in July 2008. Some concerns were raised by residents in questionnaires issued by the commission about the lack of activities in the home and a limited variety of meals. Discussions at that time with the manager confirmed a lack of progress in leisure activities and also in staff training, including the managers management qualification. In addition concerns about the recruitment of staff from overseas were passed to the commission in 2008. This information was passed to the relevant agency to investigate (see staffing section below). In order to investigate the matters referred to above we talked to the manager, some residents and a member of staff, and looked at some records kept in the home regarding leisure activities, meals served and staff recruitment and training. The outcomes are as follows. LEISURE ACTIVITIES At the annual service review undertaken in July 2008 some residents who completed questionnaires stated that there were not many social activities in the home. The manager confirmed this at the time in discussion with us, even though the the annual quality assurance assessment that had been completed stated that there was a variety of activities. At this random inspection visit there was evidence that activities in the home had increased and that this aspect of life in the home had improved. Discussion with the manager, and records kept, showed that there had recently been exercise sessions, an arts and crafts session and a pet therapy visit where a dog had been brought into the home for the residents to interact with. There was also evidence that these activities were ongoing. Residents in conversation with us said that they were enjoying the activities, and confirmed that there was more going on than there used to be. A news letter had been produced which gave details about the Christmas festivities and some activities mentioned above. People spoke particularly enthusiastically about the Christmas festivities and the arts and crafts session. One resident said she had really enjoyed making cards. MEALS At the time of the annual service review some residents said that there was not much variety in the food served, particularly for the snack tea time meal. At this random inspection site visit the records looked at, and discussions with the chef and residents, showed that the food suited the tastes and preferences of the residents. Residents in conversation said that they enjoyed the food served and that there was sufficient choice both at the main hot meal and the snack meal at teatime. One resident said that the food was lovely and another said it was just like what you got at home. The menus seen showed a variety of traditional meals, and also showed that there was a choice of main cooked meal each day, and a variety of choices for the snack tea time meal, including baked potatoes and salad. COMPLAINTS AND PROTECTION Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 10 At the Annual Service Review the staff had still not undertaken any training to help them protect the residents from abuse. At this random inspection, through talking to the manager, and a member of staff, and looking at records we found that staff had now undertaken relevant training in this matter. However we also found that not all staff knew what to do in the event of an allegation or suspicion of abuse, and the procedures were not as clear as they should be. This meant that the correct procedures might not be followed and which could leave people at risk from harm. This was discussed fully with the manager who agreed to address this matter. She subsequently provided us with an updated written procedure which was more useful and in accordance with Government guidance. STAFFING Since the annual service review in July some necessary progress had been made with staff training. At this random visit there was evidence from the records, and from talking to the manager, that more staff had undertaken the relevant national vocational qualifications (NVQs) for people working in care, and more than 50 of staff had at least NVQ level 2. This should help them look after the residents properly. Also training had been undertaken in the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (see above). A member of staff spoken with confirmed that this training had been undertaken, and also that staff were on duty in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the residents. There was no evidence of overseas staff being recruited inappropriately. However on our random inspection visit we found that for the member of staff whose file was looked at, there was no evidence of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check having been obtained so it was not clear whether or not the homes recruitment procedures were sufficiently thorough to protect people from unsuitable staff. We were told that this check had been undertaken and that the CRB disclosure had been destroyed. The manager agreed to obtain a further CRB disclosure for this person. MANAGEMENT At the last main (key) inspection in 2007 the manager was required to undertake the relevant training for the manager of a care home. At the annual service review no progress had been made with this, and the manager said that this was because she had been let down with the training provider. At this Random inspection we were informed that the manager had recommenced her training and that she expected to complete this some time in 2010. The manager provided evidence of the work completed so far and of future planned work. We were therefore assured that she was committed to this training which should assist her to manage the home effectively. This random inspection indicated that the matters outstanding from the previous (key) inspection in May 2007, and at the annual service review in 2008, were being addressed and that progress had been made. However two other matters regrding the protection of people living in the home were identified. These have been outlined above and are the subject of new requirements. What the care home does well: This random inspection focused on specific matters explained above and all aspects of Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 10 the home were not assessed. However we saw that all parts of the home were well decorated and maintained and provided a pleasant and comfortable environment for people. Also the residents spoke highly of the staff and said they were kind and caring. 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 10 Are there any outstanding requirements from the last inspection? Yes R No £ Outstanding statutory requirements These requirements were set at the last inspection. They may not have been looked at during this inspection, as a random inspection is short and focussed. The registered person must take the necessary action to comply with these requirements within the timescales set. No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action 1 31 9(b)(1) The registered manager 30/09/2008 must be qualified with NVQ 4 in management. Previous timescale 31/10/06) Not met Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 10 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 18 13 Staff must be instructed of the correct procedures to follow in the event of an allegation or suspicion of abuse. To help protect residents from abuse and harm 20/02/2009 2 29 19 A Criminal Records Bureau 06/03/2009 check must be obtained for the memeber of staff identified and there must be evidence kept in the home that these checks have been undertaken for all members of staff. So that recruitment procedures are sufficiently thorough to protect people from unsuitable staff. 3 31 9 The Registered Manager 28/02/2010 must be qualified with NVQ 4 in management. (Previous timescales of 31/10/06 and 30/09/07 not met) So the the manager has the necessary knowledge and skills to manage the care home effectively. Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 10 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 31 The manager should notify the commission of her progress on the management course and also of when she expects to complete the qualification. Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 10 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Inspection Report CSCI 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: 0845 015 0120 or 0191 233 3323 Textphone: 0845 015 2255 or 0191 233 3588 Email: enquiries@csci.gsi.gov.uk Web: www.csci.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. 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