Care Home: Walton House

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Annual service review Name of Service: Walton House The quality rating for this care home is: The rating was made on: three star excellent service 0 6 0 3 2 0 0 9 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: Claire Taylor Date of this annual service review: 1 8 0 1 2 0 1 0 Annual Service Review Page 1 of 8 Information about the service Address of service: Hall Road Wallington Surrey SM6 0RT 02086478836 F/P02086478836 waltonhouse6@btinternet.com Telephone number: Fax number: Email address: Provider web address:   Name of registered provider(s): Conditions of registration: Category(ies) : learning disability Conditions of registration: Loving Care Ltd Number of places (if applicable): Under 65 Over 65 7 0 The maximum number of service users who can be accommodated is: 7 The registered person may provide the following category of service only: Care Home Only (CRH - 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 Have there been any changes in the ownership, management or the Yes 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 Walton House is registered to provide residential care for up to seven young adults with learning disabilities. The service is owned, managed and staffed by Loving Care Ltd who are a family-run business and also own a second residential home in Wallington. The home supports people who have specialist needs such as autism and behaviours that may challenge the care services that they require. The home is a large detached property situated in a residential street close to the centre of Wallington and well placed for accessing local shops and public transport links. It is a large house on a three-floor storey with seven en suite bedrooms. There are also two bathrooms, & one Annual Service Review Page 2 of 8 None 0 6 0 3 2 0 0 9 shower room. Shared living areas include a lounge, conservatory, dining room, kitchen with dining table, laundry, office and a room known as The retreat. People can use this room as another sitting room during the evenings and day to undertake activities if they wish. More detailed information about the services provided can be found in the homes Statement of Purpose and Service User Guide- copies of these can be obtained directly from the home. Fees ranged from £1900 to £2200 per week at the time of our last key inspection in March 2009 and since that time, there have been no changes to the ownership or management of the service. Annual Service Review Page 3 of 8 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. 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 sent to the people who live in the home, their relatives or representatives, the staff who work in the home and other professionals who have an interest in the service.We asked the manager to distribute the questionnaires. What the service has told us about any incidents, accidents or events that have affected the health, safety, or well being of people using the service. These are called notifications and are a legal requirement. The previous key inspection and any requirements. What has this told us about the service? At the last key inspection, this service was rated as providing excellent outcomes for the people who use it. We completed this review on December 29th 2009. The home sent us their annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) when we asked for it and the required information was fully completed by the home manager. The AQAA told us in good detail how the service has improved upon outcomes for the people who use its services and where it could perform better. The AQAA also gave clear and detailed information about where further developments are either planned or would benefit the people who use the service. We have included some of this information in each of the outcome groups. We received surveys from five people who use the service at the time of this review. Their keyworker staff had helped them to complete the form. Four relatives or representatives and ten staff also returned their questionnaires. The responses told us that people and those that are close to them are positive about the care they receive. For what the home does well, comments from people living in the home included, It listens to my views.It organises events well. Fulfilling my dreams. I like going out a lot and I got the opportunity to do this. Another person said that Walton house was good at looking after me and a third commented it is a friendly house. Comments from relatives were, They employ mature staff, look after them well so are able to retain staff. Great interest shown in each resident. They understand the needs & problems of autistic people. Another relative wrote, They spend a great deal of time finding out X likes and dislikes. Providing a one to one relationship. A third wrote, Endeavours to meet each clients individual needs.They generally dont access the community as a group which would be the easy option. Instead their social and working lives are determined by their individual wishes, capabilities and needs. CHOICE OF HOME The AQAA gave us lots of information about its admission process and how people are involved when making a decision whether to use the service. It told us that one person moved on to supported living accommodation since our last inspection and that there was one vacancy. The home specialises in meeting the needs of people who have autism and behaviour which may challenge the services they require. By using a thorough assessment process, the service ensures that a persons individual needs are understood and can be met. There is a comprehensive range of Annual Service Review Page 4 of 8 clear, accurate and accessible information for people who use the service. Examples such as the Service User guide are tailored to suit the individual needs of each person and include pictures and personal photographs. This is to help people understand what the home offers in a way that is meaningful to them. INDIVIDUAL NEEDS & CHOICES Information in the AQAA told us that in the past year care plans have been made more person centred and people who use the service are well supported to keep control over their lives and exercise choices. It also told us that the home makes sure peoples care plans are regularly reviewed and acted upon. Things that were important to people had been followed up by the home. Some examples given on the AQAA included supporting one person to do voluntary work in a charity shop and another to learn how to use public transport independently to visit their family. LIFESTYLE Information within the AQAA told us that people continue to lead busy and fulfilling lives that are arranged according to their needs and preferred lifestyle. Our surveys included questions such as; are you able to make decisions about what you do each day? Five out of six people ticked always and the other person did not respond. The home is able to think of new and creative ways to make sure that their service is able to do the things that matter to people. The AQAA gave lots of details about new activities that people have tried out and taken part in over the last 12 months. The manager wrote, People have chosen courses at Adult Education that mirror their goals and needs such as Tai Chi to remain mobile, Citizenship for one man who is interested in politics and healthy eating, healthy me for someone who wants to lose weight. Another person has an interest in theatre, culture and history and goes with their keyworker to art galleries, the filming of TV shows and looking at architecture. One improvement over the last 12 months stated, We now have three vehicles as people may have to travel longer distances over three boroughs to access their college or day service. PERSONAL & HEALTHCARE SUPPORT The AQAA gave good examples on how equalities and diversity are promoted for people using the service. Peoples different cultures, beliefs and heritage are supported and issues are explored and discussed individually and through group meetings. One example written by the manager said, We have had a Jewish evening and a South African meal and clients often put a meal on the menu that they may have seen on TV. The AQAA gave good information about how the home meets peoples healthcare and personal needs and that individuals are supported to access other NHS professional services as needed. One person with mobility needs receives regular hydrotherapy and physiotherapy at a specialist centre as well as a floor exercise session in the home. Each person has a health action plan that they have been involved with creating. People have specialist needs such as autism and behaviour that may challenge the services they require. The AQAA contained good information about how the home works with other professionals to ensure individual needs remain met. The AQAA gave evidence that medication practices are managed well, that staff are trained and people using the service are supported to take their own medication and understand their healthcare needs. We are not aware of any serious incidents or errors occurring regarding the administration of medication at the home in the last twelve months. COMPLAINTS & PROTECTION There is a clear complaints procedure available to the people using the service and their family or representatives. The AQAA stated that the Annual Service Review Page 5 of 8 home has received one complaint within the past year and that this was satisfactorily resolved. No complaints or safeguarding concerns have been reported to us within the last 12 months. Survey responses told us that people and those that are close to them have confidence that the home would deal with any concerns if they arose. People ticked that they knew how to complain and who to speak to if they were unhappy about something. There is a thorough staff recruitment process and all staff have regular training on safeguarding. The manager wrote that staff have also undertaken deprivation of liberties training and written information was sent to parents and carers. This indicates that the homes practices continue to protect people from potential harm or poor practice. ENVIRONMENT The AQAA told us that the home remains furnished to a very high standard. There have been ongoing home improvements over the last 12 months including redecoration of all communal areas, two bedrooms and exterior paintwork. Any changes are planned in consultation with people using the service who also helped choose new lounge furniture, garden equipment and ornaments. Adaptations have been made to enable better wheelchair access for one person and a ceiling hoist and tracking system has been installed in their bathroom. The manager also wrote, the top floor of the house has been redeveloped to provide an additional sitting/ quiet room for clients, more spacious office and a new sleep -in staff room. Information on the AQAA stated that service checks and maintenance records were up to date. Routine, regular checks are also carried out to ensure that the home remains safe and comfortable for people using the service. STAFFING The AQAA told us that there has been zero staff turnover meaning that people using the service continue to benefit from consistent care. All ten staff confirmed on surveys that recruitment checks were carried out before they started work. Staff gave complimentary views about their working experience and did not identify any areas that the service could improve upon. The AQAA indicates that there is continuous training and professional development for staff and the manager to keep up to date with research and best working practice. Staff training is regular and sepcific to the the needs of the people who use the service and include courses on autism, dysphagia and moving and handling. The staff who returned surveys were generally happy with the training and support they get. They know what they need to do to care for people safely and are provided with the information they require about individuals needs and circumstances. MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION There have been no changes since our last inspection and the same manager, Dionne Hawkes continues to run the home. Ten staff ticked that their manager regularly met with them to give support and discuss how they were working. The annual quality assurance assessment (AQAA) contained excellent information that was fully supported by appropriate evidence. The manager wrote about improvements over the last year. We do a monthly Walton Warbler news letter which is individualised for each client and enables family and friends to keep up to date with all that is happening. Other quality assurance details in the AQAA tell us that the home considers and acts upon peoples views to improve the service. We asked people what they thought the home could do better. One person living in Walton House wrote they would like more exotic food and trips to America and another wrote,more holidays. Feedback from relatives or representatives was highly complimentary and included only two suggestions. Firstly, that travel training could be introduced and secondly to encourage people to Annual Service Review Page 6 of 8 use their front door key where they are able to. Some of these issues were already mentioned in the AQAA. The manager also wrote, We constantly evaluate the services provision and make continuous improvements based on the comments of others. We agree with this statement as the AQAA contained good details about forthcoming plans for improving the service and evidence that any service development is done in the best interests of the people using it. Based on the information that we have received, our judgement is that the home is still providing an excellent service and that they know what further improvements they need to make. What are we going to do as a result of this annual service review? We are not going to change our inspection plan for this service, and will do a key inspection by 23rd February 2012. 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 living there. Annual Service Review Page 7 of 8 Reader Information Document Purpose: Author: Audience: Further copies from: Annual service review CQC General Public 0870 240 7535 (national contact centre) Our duty to regulate social care services is set out in the Care Standards Act 2000. 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