The Care Quality Commission
  • Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Orchard Portman House

Orchard Portman, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 7BQ (01823) 336457

Provided and run by:
Taunton Hospital Limited

All Inspections

22 January 2014

During a routine inspection

The building was divided into two separate areas. One area, The Pavilion, accommodated men who were being assessed and treated for their mental health needs. This area provided short and long term care for people, some of whom were detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. It was overseen by the registered manager and a team of psychiatrists. The other area, known as The Orchard, provided more long term care for older people who had dementia.

At the time of this inspection a six month building project was underway to up-grade the part of the building known as The Orchard. There were systems in place to ensure that the building work did not have a detrimental effect on people using the service.

Many people we met were unable to fully express their views verbally due to their cognitive impairment. We therefore spent time observing care practices and talking with staff and visitors in addition to speaking with people who used the service.

There was a calm and relaxed atmosphere in all areas of the building that we visited. One person commented 'There's a pleasant atmosphere and that makes it a nice place to stay.'

People were treated with respect and dignity. Throughout the day we observed that staff spoke with people in a polite and respectful manner. One person told us 'The staff are kind and always polite to you.'

People who used the service were not involved in planning their care or given information to enable them to make choices about their treatment. One medical professional told us they held weekly ward rounds in the part of the home known as The Pavilion. People who used the service and their representatives were not invited to attend ward rounds.

People we asked were happy with the care and support they received. One person told us 'It's good here, the facilities are good.' Another person said 'The staff are wonderful and caring. Everything is fantastic.'

There were suitable arrangements in place for the safe storage and administration of people's medicines.

There were robust recruitment processes which ensured new staff had the relevant skills and were of good character.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service offered and ensure the safety of people who lived at the home.

Records relating to people who used the service were poorly maintained and were not always kept up to date.

18 February 2013

During a routine inspection

On the day of our inspection 32 older people were living in The Orchard building and 17 male patients were being assessed and treated in The Pavilion wing. We spoke with 12 people who used the service, two visitors and eight members of staff from across the two units. We also observed the care provided to other people who were unable to communicate verbally with us.

People told us they were treated with dignity and respect. One person said, 'They are all very polite and pleasant'. A person's visiting relative said, 'The staff are very accommodating and respect our privacy together'.

There was evidence that people expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. People said, 'They couldn't be better, I always get what I ask for and never get what I don't want' and 'Staff always make things clear to me and explain things before giving me any treatment'.

The majority of people we spoke with told us they were happy with the care and treatment they received. People said 'We are looked after very well' and 'Staff are always there when needed'.

People said, 'The staff are very good, I feel safe here' and 'We see the manager all the time. I wouldn't hesitate to report any concerns'. A staff member said 'Everyone seems to muck in and the patients are at the centre of everything'.

The provider had a complaints policy for ensuring complaints were recorded and fully investigated.

7 February 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

This was an unannounced joint visit by one of our regulatory Compliance Inspectors and one of our Mental Health Act Commissioners. Both colleagues cooperated together with the review of services provided at Orchard Portman House. A separate Visit Feedback Summary is prepared by our Mental Health Act Commissioner relating to the provider's duties under the Mental Health Act 1983.

At this inspection we reviewed both the nursing home service provided in the main Orchard building and the mental health service provided in the Pavilion wing. During our inspection we spoke with six people who lived in the main Orchard building and the relatives of three other people. All of the people we spoke with told us they were treated with dignity and their wishes were respected. We were told, 'Staff always knock and will come back if it's not convenient' and 'Sometimes a young man will come, but if I want a women to support me I only have to ask'.

There were nine people with a mental illness staying in the Pavilion wing. Some were able to participate in discussions about aspects of their care but the majority had limited understanding of their situation. The people we spoke with in the Pavilion told us they were treated with dignity and respect. We observed that they were free to move around the unit and the garden area accompanied or observed by staff. The interactions between staff and people were appropriate and friendly.

Overall people told us they were well looked after. We were told, 'It's a wonderful home' and 'I haven't got any grumbles'. Relatives said, 'I visit regularly and have no complaints. My relative is always treated well' and 'You can't fault the nursing care'.

But several people commented that the staff were often very busy. They said, 'The staff are very good but always seem to be in a hurry' and 'They never seem to have enough time to do what they need to'. On the day of our inspection we observed that staff were busy but were not rushing people and were responding reasonably quickly when people needed assistance. The interactions between staff and people in the home were appropriate, friendly and respectful.

Our Mental Health Act Commissioner colleague spoke with three of the four detained patients in the Pavilion and they spoke well of the staff. We also spoke with one of the informal patients who said, 'The staff are all OK'.

When asked people we spoke with in the Orchard told us they felt safe and were well treated by staff. We were told, 'Staff have never treated me badly and I have never seen anyone else treated badly' and 'They are kind and look after the residents very well'. A member of staff also told us, 'I've never seen anyone treated badly but would report it if I did. I'm confident that management wouldn't tolerate it'.

People we spoke with were not aware of their written care plans but said if they wanted to know anything they would talk to the staff. One person said, 'If I need anything I can chat to them about most things'. People were able to make choices about their daily living. They generally got up and went to bed when they wanted, had a choice of meals, and went out into the community. People told us, 'Meals are very good, we get a choice and there's plenty to eat' and 'I am taken out for walks in my wheelchair and go to church when the weather's fine' and 'usually I get up when I wish, but sometimes it's earlier than I would like when staff are busy'.

People told us they took part in group activities and had regular visits from relatives and friends. We observed a number of group activities taking place and people told us that there was enough to occupy them. One person said, 'There's lots to do and you are asked if you want to join in. There's no chance of getting bored'.