Latest Inspection
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 29th October 2009. CQC found this care home to be providing an Adequate service.
The inspector found no outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report,
but made 4 statutory requirements (actions the home must comply with) as a result of this inspection.
For extracts, read the latest CQC inspection for The Chase Care Home Ltd.
What the care home does well A number of improvements have been made at The Chase, and it provides people living there with a comfortable and homely environment. They are encouraged to bring some of their own possessions with them when they move in, and those who chose to remain in their rooms were happy to discuss how they arranged them. Communication between the people living there and the staff was relaxed, friendly and on first name terms. Their comments were positive, `staff are very good`, `the owner is very nice`, `helpful` and nothing is too much trouble`. What has improved since the last inspection? This is the first inspection following the homes registration. What the care home could do better: There are a number of improvements that need to be made to ensure the home meets the National Minimum Standards for Older People. These include appropriate training for staff linked to ongoing supervision and a quality assurance and monitoring system. Key inspection report
Care homes for older people
Name: Address: The Chase Care Home Ltd 5-6 Southfields Road Eastbourne E Sussex BN21 1BU The quality rating for this care home is:
one star adequate service A quality rating is our assessment of how well a care home 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 full review a ‘key’ inspection. Lead inspector: Kathy Flynn
Date: 2 9 1 0 2 0 0 9 This is a review of quality of outcomes that people experience in this care home. We believe high quality care should • • • • • Be safe Have the right outcomes, including clinical outcomes Be a good experience for the people that use it Help prevent illness, and promote healthy, independent living Be available to those who need it when they need it. The first part of the review gives the overall quality rating for the care home: • • • • 3 2 1 0 stars - excellent stars - good star - adequate star - poor There is also a bar chart that gives a quick way of seeing the quality of care that the home provides under key areas that matter to people. There is a summary of what we think this service does well, what they have improved on and, where it applies, what they need to do better. We use the national minimum standards to describe the outcomes that people should experience. National minimum standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. After the summary there is more detail about our findings. The following table explains what you will see under each outcome area.
Outcome area (for example Choice of home) These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. that people have said are important to them: They reflect the things This box tells you the outcomes that we will always inspect against when we do a key inspection. This box tells you any additional outcomes that we may inspect against when we do a key inspection.
This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: This box tells you our opinion of what we have looked at in this outcome area. We will say whether it is excellent, good, adequate or poor. Evidence: This box describes the information we used to come to our judgement. Care Homes for Older People
Page 2 of 23 We review the quality of the service against outcomes from the National Minimum Standards (NMS). Those standards are written by the Department of Health for each type of care service. Copies of the National Minimum Standards – Care Homes for Older People can be found at www.dh.gov.uk or bought 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 The mission of the Care Quality Commission is to make care better for people by: • Regulating health and adult social care services to ensure quality and safety standards, drive improvement and stamp out bad practice • Protecting the rights of people who use services, particularly the most vulnerable and those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 • Providing accessible, trustworthy information on the quality of care and services so people can make better decisions about their care and so that commissioners and providers of services can improve services. • Providing independent public accountability on how commissioners and providers of services are improving the quality of care and providing value for money. Reader Information
Document Purpose Author Audience Further copies from Copyright Inspection report Care Quality Commission General public 0870 240 7535 (telephone order line) Copyright © (2009) Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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. The material should be acknowledged as CQC copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. www.cqc.org.uk Internet address Care Homes for Older People Page 3 of 23 Information about the care home
Name of care home: Address: The Chase Care Home Ltd 5-6 Southfields Road Eastbourne E Sussex BN21 1BU 01323722855 01323722855 Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address: Name of registered provider(s): The Chase Care Home Ltd Name of registered manager (if applicable) Type of registration: Number of places registered: care home 24 Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 old age, not falling within any other category Additional conditions: The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: Twenty-four (24) The registered person may provide the following category/ies of service only: Care Home only - PC to service users of the following gender: Either. Whose primary care needs on admission to the home are within the following category/ies:Old age, not falling within any other category - OP Date of last inspection Brief description of the care home 0 Over 65 24 Care Homes for Older People Page 4 of 23 Summary
This is an overview of what we found during the inspection. The quality rating for this care home is: Our judgement for each outcome: one star adequate service Choice of home Health and personal care Daily life and social activities Complaints and protection Environment Staffing Management and administration peterchart Poor Adequate Good Excellent How we did our inspection: The quality rating for this service is 1 star. This means the people who use this service experience adequate quality outcomes. This was the first unannounced inspection following the registration of The Chase Care Home Ltd with the Care Quality Commission in July 2009. The inspection involved an unannounced visit to the home and an examination of documents including care plans, staff files and menus. The provider, manager and staff were involved in the inspection and were happy to discuss the support they provide for people living in the home. The home had not been asked to complete an Annual Quality Assurance Assessment. Care Homes for Older People Page 5 of 23 What the care home does well: What has improved since the last inspection? 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 on page 4. The report of this inspection is available from our website www.cqc.org.uk. You can get printed copies from enquiries@cqc.org.uk or by telephoning our order line 0870 240 7535. Care Homes for Older People Page 6 of 23 Details of our findings
Contents Choice of home (standards 1 - 6) Health and personal care (standards 7 - 11) Daily life and social activities (standards 12 - 15) Complaints and protection (standards 16 - 18) Environment (standards 19 - 26) Staffing (standards 27 - 30) Management and administration (standards 31 - 38) Outstanding statutory requirements Requirements and recommendations from this inspection Care Homes for Older People Page 7 of 23 Choice of home
These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People are confident that the care home can support them. This is because there is an accurate assessment of their needs that they, or people close to them, have been involved in. This tells the home all about them and the support they need. People who stay at the home only for intermediate care, have a clear assessment that includes a plan on what they hope for and want to achieve when they return home. People can decide whether the care home can meet their support and accommodation needs. This is because they, or people close to them, have been able to visit the home and have got full, clear, accurate and up to date information about the home. If they decide to stay in the home they know about their rights and responsibilities because there is an easy to understand contract or statement of terms and conditions between them and the care home that includes how much they will pay and what the home provides for the money. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The home provides information about the services offered to prospective residents and their representatives, to enable them to decide if the home can meet their needs. Assessments are completed before they are offered a place at The Chase, to ensure that the home can meet their needs. Evidence: A copy of the Statement of Purpose and Service Users Guide are kept in the entrance area of the home, and are available to prospective residents and their representatives on request. They contain clear information about the services offered at The Chase, however they need updating to reflect the changes in staffing. Three care plans were viewed and these contained detailed assessments about the residents physical and social needs, their mobility, diet, hobbies and interests. Residents who took part in the inspection said that they were visited by someone to discuss their needs, one visited the home with her family and between them they
Care Homes for Older People Page 8 of 23 Evidence: decided it could offer the support she needed. Another said that her family had chosen the home and she was happy with the choice. Care Homes for Older People Page 9 of 23 Health and personal care
These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People’s health, personal and social care needs are met. The home has a plan of care that the person, or someone close to them, has been involved in making. If they take medicine, they manage it themselves if they can. If they cannot manage their medicine, the care home supports them with it, in a safe way. People’s right to privacy is respected and the support they get from staff is given in a way that maintains their dignity. If people are approaching the end of their life, the care home will respect their choices and help them feel comfortable and secure. They, and people close to them, are reassured that their death will be handled with sensitivity, dignity and respect, and take account of their spiritual and cultural wishes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The care planning system provides staff with information about the needs of residents and enables staff to offer the support they want and need. Evidence: Three care plans were examined and found to contain detailed information about the residents individual needs, including their physical and social needs; risk assessments for falls and self medication; signed consent forms for medicines, photographs, the care provided, checks at night and sharing of information with other professional bodies. The records are quite clear and well written, although the person responsible for them no longer works at the home and the manager explained that she has yet to make a decision about the care planning system the home will follow. Residents involved in the inspection said the staff are very good and look after us very well. The residents are registered with GPs and records are kept of any visits from allied health professionals, including District Nurses and Tissue Viability Nurses.
Care Homes for Older People Page 10 of 23 Evidence: We looked at medicine management practice in the home. Medicines were stored in a locked trolley and this trolley is used for medicine administration. There was no cupboard for medicines that require specific security relating to storage. These medicine are called controlled drugs. Controlled drugs require a register to be kept on its usage and this register was available and records were completed and accurate. We asked for written policies on medicine mangement and these were not available. One resident was managing their own medicine. Risk assessment around this activity was available and was reviewed monthly. This means people are supported to mange their own medicine if they choose to do so. We saw the certificates for staff relating to recent medicine handling training. Some recording shortfalls were noted on the Medicine administration record [MAR] charts. For example, when a medicine was prescribed as a variable dose the actual amount given was not recorded on the MAR chart and the care plan for medicine to be given only when needed did not clearly state the method of recording for medicines that might be needed at times other than the recorded time on the MAR chart. To help with audit, the home would benefit from keeping clear complete medicine use. The home identifies the changing needs of residents and arranges alternative accomodation if they are unable to meet the specific health care needs of people living there. Care Homes for Older People Page 11 of 23 Daily life and social activities
These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: Each person is treated as an individual and the care home is responsive to his or her race, culture, religion, age, disability, gender and sexual orientation. They are part of their local community. The care home supports people to follow personal interests and activities. People are able to keep in touch with family, friends and representatives. They are as independent as they can be, lead their chosen lifestyle and have the opportunity to make the most of their abilities. People have nutritious and attractive meals and snacks, at a time and place to suit them. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The routines of the home are flexible and residents are encouraged to be independent and make choices about all aspects of their lives. People living in the home said the food is good and they are able to have what they like. Evidence: The staff advised that residents are able to choose how and where they spend their time, and residents supported this. Those involved in the inspection said that they are able to decide what they want to do, some prefer to spend time in their own rooms, while others use the dining room at lunch time and the lounge to watch TV or talk to staff. One of the residents was out with her family and another goes into town shopping on a regular basis. The atmosphere in the home was comfortable and communication between the residents, staff and provider was friendly and relaxed. Residents said the provider is very friendly, helpful, nothing is too much trouble and staff offer the support we need. The provider confirmed that activities, as listed in the Statement of Purpose are provided, although none were organised at the time of the inspection. He advised that
Care Homes for Older People Page 12 of 23 Evidence: visitors are welcome at any time and he would like to develop more links with the local community, including churches and local groups for the benefit of the people who live at the home. Residents are offered choices at all meals times, and those sitting in the dining room enjoyed the lunch and said the food is very good. The chef said that he is aware of the residents likes and dislikes, and offers residents the food that they want. Care Homes for Older People Page 13 of 23 Complaints and protection
These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: If people have concerns with their care, they or people close to them know how to complain. Any concern is looked into and action taken to put things right. The care home safeguards people from abuse and neglect and takes action to follow up any allegations. People’s legal rights are protected, including being able to vote in elections. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. There are complaints procedures in place at the home, and staff have attended training in protecting vulnerable adults that protects residents. Evidence: The Statement of Purpose and Service Users Guide includes details of how people living in the home, and their representatives, can raise concerns or make a complaint to the management. Residents involved in the inspection said that they did not have anything to complain about, although if they did they could talk directly to the provider, who is always available to talk to the residents and their visitors. Staff spoken with said they have attended training in protecting vulnerable adults before they started working at The Chase, and they were able to demonstrate an understanding of abuse and what action they would take if they had any concerns. Training issues have been identified in Standards 30 and 38. Two anonymous complaints, and two referrals to the local authority under safeguarding protocols have been received by the Commission since the registration of The Chase Care Home Limited in July 2009. The safeguarding referral identified issues for the home to address, and there is some evidence that the provider has taken appropriate action.
Care Homes for Older People Page 14 of 23 Environment
These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People stay in a safe and well-maintained home that is homely, clean, pleasant and hygienic. People stay in a home that has enough space and facilities for them to lead the life they choose and to meet their needs. The home makes sure they have the right specialist equipment that encourages and promotes their independence. Their room feels like their own, it is comfortable and they feel safe when they use it. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience good quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The Chase offers the people living there a comfortable and homely environment, and staff have attended infection control training to protect them. Evidence: A considerable amount of work has been carried out to improve the internal environment of the home. The roof and bedroom ceilings damaged by water have been replaced, en suite facilities have been updated, and there are plans to install en suites in all residents rooms. People involved in the inspection said that they were very comfortable in their rooms, they were able to bring some of their own possessions with them, and can arrange them as they wish. A shaft lift enables residents and visitors to access each floor, and there is disabled access to the home. Staff confirmed that they have attended training in the control of infection with previous employers, and were able to demonstrate a good understanding of the use of gloves and aprons to protect residents. Care Homes for Older People Page 15 of 23 Staffing
These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have safe and appropriate support as there are enough competent staff on duty at all times. They have confidence in the staff at the home because checks have been done to make sure that they are suitable to care for them. Their needs are met and they are cared for by staff who get the relevant training and support from their managers. There are no additional outcomes. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The care staff involved in the inspection are experienced in supporting people in a care environment. A training programme was not in place at the time of the inspection. Evidence: Three staff files were viewed and all contained application forms, employment histories, Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks, two had the required two references and the third only had one. The person responsible for staff employment prior to the inspection is no longer working at the home, and the new manager clearly understands the importance of completing relevant checks, particularly POVA and CRB, before staff are employed at the home. Staff spoken with said that they are able to offer the residents the support they want and need, while enabling them to make choices about all aspects of their day to day lives. People living in the home said the staff are very goodand they help us do things that we cant do ourselves anymore. The home did not have an appropriate training programme at the time of the inspection. Staff had not completed induction training in line with skills for care, although they are experienced in care work, and one has completed the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in care to Level 3. Care Homes for Older People Page 16 of 23 Evidence: The expectation is that the new manager will be looking at developing a training programme for staff over the next few months. Care Homes for Older People Page 17 of 23 Management and administration
These are the outcomes that people staying in care homes should experience. They reflect the things that people have said are important to them: People have confidence in the care home because it is led and managed appropriately. People control their own money and choose how they spend it. If they or someone close to them cannot manage their money, it is managed by the care home in their best interests. The environment is safe for people and staff because appropriate health and safety practices are carried out. People get the right support from the care home because the manager runs it appropriately with an open approach that makes them feel valued and respected. The people staying at the home are safeguarded because it follows clear financial and accounting procedures, keeps records appropriately and ensures their staff understand the way things should be done. They get the right care because the staff are supervised and supported by their managers. This is what people staying in this care home experience: Judgement: People using this service experience adequate quality outcomes in this area. We have made this judgement using a range of evidence, including a visit to this service. The management style of the home is to encourage people living there, and their representatives, to be involved in developing the services provided. A training programme is required to ensure that the health and safety of residents is protected. Evidence: The Chase was registered with the new provider in June 2009, and over the past few months a considerable amount of work has been done to improve the environment of the home, internally and externally. He feels that he has a lot to learn and has employed the services of two consultants to assist him, and has been looking to appoint an experienced care manager since the previous manager and deputy left. The current manager actually started working at the home the day before the inspection, and has considerable experience of providing care for people with learning disabilities in a residential setting. She intends to start working towards the Registered Managers Award, and will be registering as the manager with the Commission. Care Homes for Older People Page 18 of 23 Evidence: There have been considerable difficulties for the provider and staff over the past few months, and the manager understands that a number of improvements are required if the home is to meet all the National Minimum Standards for Older People. The provider is in daily contact with people living in the home, and their visitors, and is able to address any concerns they may have or any suggestions to make things more comfortable for them. However an effective quality assurance and monitoring system needs to be developed to assess all the services available at the home. The homes policies and procedures were not available at the time of the inspection, supervision and a training programme are currently not in place. The manager advised that these are some of the areas she will be improving. The provider advised that the home does not take responsibility for the residents finances. The provider confirmed that the shaft lift, electrical systems and all other facilities have the required certification, to ensure the health and safety of the people living there. However the limited staff training does not ensure the safety of residents and the expectation is that a programme of training will be developed by the manager. Care Homes for Older People Page 19 of 23 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, Care Homes Regulations 2001 and the National Minimum Standards.
No. Standard Regulation Requirement Timescale for action Care Homes for Older People Page 20 of 23 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 9 13 To obtain a cupboard store controlled drugs safely and in accordance with the requirements of the Misuse of drugs Act 1973 To comply with the law 20/01/2010 2 9 13 To have clear and comprehensive written policies and procedures on handling medicines. To give guidance to the staff for consistency and safety 20/01/2010 3 30 18 That an appropriate training programme is developed and introduced including an induction programme. To ensure staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities. 14/12/2009 4 33 24 Quality assurance and monitoring system to be developed and introduced. 22/02/2010 Care Homes for Older People Page 21 of 23 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 To ensure that the home meets the needs of the people living there. 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 Care Homes for Older People Page 22 of 23 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. Copyright © (2009) Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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. The material should be acknowledged as CQC copyright, with the title and date of publication of the document specified. Care Homes for Older People Page 23 of 23 - 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!