Archived: Tawburn House

Sticklepath, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2NL (01837) 840019

Provided and run by:
Taw Care Ltd

All Inspections

10 May 2013

During a routine inspection

There were four people using the service during our inspection, three of whom were unable to tell us their experience of living there. We therefore spoke to their families about the service they received.

One person said "The food is excellent". The family of another person told us "Xxx enjoys the food". We found that there was a variety of nutritious food available and any concerns for people's intake would be identified.

One person confirmed that they received their medicines on time. We found that people's medicines were handled in a safe way on their behalf at the home.

We checked that the provider had completed their plan to make the environment safe. We found that previous hazards had been made safe and the inside of the home was in a safe state. One person told us "I am very happy with the room my mother has. It is a lovely room" and another person's family said how nice that person's room was.

Staff appeared competent but we found that, following care worker's induction training, there was no regular training provided to ensure staff worked to an appropriate standard. Neither was there any formal supervision or support in place, which should identify training needs.

We found that people's views were sought and the quality of the service was now better monitored. People told us, told us "I have no concerns"; "Xxx (the registered manager) is extremely helpful and has dealt with any concerns" and "Previous concerns have been addressed."

14 January 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We inspected Tawburn House to follow up on an area of non compliance identified at the previous inspection and to look at areas of concern received.

We spoke to or met all five people who were living in the home. We also observed them going about their everyday business including having breakfast and being assisted by the staff. We also spoke with the registered manager, two care staff and the cook.

We observed staff working as a team to provide comfort and reassurance to people who had a diagnosis of dementia.

Some areas of the building environment remain unsafe. Although there had been improvements, made since the last visit, there remained concerns regarding the safety of some parts of the building.

Staff we spoke with confirmed they were working long hours without sufficient time off between shifts and days off.

16, 24 October 2012

During a routine inspection

We visited Tawburn House one evening and one morning. We met each of the seven people using the service but most were not able to communicate their opinion about the service due to the condition of dementia. However, one person said that they liked their room, had everything they needed and that they were well cared for and happy with the home. They said "[The manager] keeps this place going. She is the captain of the ship".

Staff had a good understanding of people's needs and how to meet them. A district nurse said she did not have "huge concerns" and staff were 'pretty good'. Staff engagement with people was generally kind and thoughtful although staff told us, and they appeared to be, tired. They said this was because of many additional hours worked, meeting staffing shortfalls. People were not always safe from the staffing arrangements, either number of staff to meet their needs or their training, which was not regular.

The building environment was not safe. Risks had not been assessed or dealt with in a timely manner. Although there had been significant improvement by the end of our inspection there remained concerns around cleanliness and the state of the environment. The provider told us how they intended to improve this.

There was no effective system in place for monitoring the quality of the service so to promote people's health, safety and welfare.

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out an inspection in November 2010 because we had received information of concern in relation to meeting people's nutritional needs at Tawburn House. We had been told that food stocks were running low and people were not always able to have their preferred choices. During our visit to the home we also identified concerns in relation to the cleanliness of equipment, management of medicines and staffing levels. The provider was then required to provide a report on how compliance was to be achieved at the home so that people would receive improved outcomes. We received that report.

Since the previous inspection we have not received any complaints or concerns about Tawburn House.

Towards this inspection we spoke with a district nurse who visits the home regularly. She told us that there were no concerns about the care provided at Tawburn House and there was confidence in the way the home was managed.

We asked the provider to send us their current assessment (November 2011) on how the essential standards of: meeting nutritional needs, cleanliness and infection control, management of medicines and staffing, were being met. We have also looked at notifications received about events at the home, such as deaths and serious incidents.

We are satisfied that the home is currently compliant in the four essential standards where compliance had not been achieved in November 2010 and that the outcomes for people who use the service are improved.

3 November 2010

During an inspection in response to concerns

People who use the service and their representatives said that they like the staff and manager very much. We were told: 'People are well looked after and the staff are brilliant'. We were told that the manager knows people very well and that she knows people's food preferences. They also praised the cook and the standards of food available at the home. They feel that people are happy and generally well cared for .

Two people's family told us:

'Too many times I am the only person in the lounge with the residents."

"I don't know that there's enough staff there really. There's nobody in the lounge and you have to go and find somebody." They consider this to be a risk.