The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Rowlandson House

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

1-2 Rowlandson Terrace, Ryhope Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7SU (0191) 514 4125

Provided and run by:
Rowlandson House Ltd

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

All Inspections

18 June 2015

During an inspection looking at part of the service

Rowlandson House provides personal care and accommodation for up to 27 older people including people living with dementia. The accommodation is over three floors which are accessible by a passenger lift and stairs. The home is located near to the city centre of Sunderland. There were 15 people using the service when we visited.

At the last inspection of this care home, which was carried out on 11 December 2014, we found some shortfalls in the premises that could present a risk to the people who lived there. These included unsuitable window restrictors that could easily be removed from windows. Also a chrome towel rail in a shower room had a hot surface temperature so could scald someone. Other defects included a window in a lounge that would not shut fully causing a draught, and a very poor odour in a cupboard. These issues were a breach of regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010, which corresponds to regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

After the inspection the provider wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements. We carried out an unannounced focused inspection to check whether the provider had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met the legal requirement. This report only covers our findings in relation to that requirement. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Rowlandson House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

During this inspection visit we found that work had been carried out to address all the premises issues. This meant the provider had met the assurances they had given in their action plan and were no longer in breach of the regulation.

11 December 2014

During a routine inspection

Rowlandson House provides personal care and accommodation for up to 27 older people including people living with dementia. The accommodation is over three floors which are accessible by a passenger lift and stairs. The home is located near to the city centre of Sunderland. There were 12 people using the service when we visited.

This inspection took place on 11 December 2014 and was unannounced which meant the provider and staff did not know we were coming.

The last inspection of this home was carried out on 30 December 2013. The service met the regulations we inspected against at that time.

The home had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Some parts of the premises were not fully safe. Window-opening restrictors were not suitable because they could be removed from the window frame. A towel rail had a very hot surface temperature which could cause a scalding risk to people if they touched it by mistake. A window in one lounge did not fit into the frame so there was a significant draught in this room. The medicines storage room had a very poor odour, which would not affect people but could affect the staff members who used it. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.

People were positive about the service they received. People felt safe and comfortable with staff. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and to spend time with them. The provider and registered manager made sure only suitable staff were employed who had been checked and vetted. Some people had been involved in the interviews of new staff so they felt included in decisions about the home.

Staff were clear about how to recognise and report any suspicions of abuse. Staff told us they were confident that any concerns would be listened to and investigated to make sure people were protected. Potential risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and managed. People could manage their own medicines if they were able to do so; otherwise staff managed these in a safe way for people.

People felt staff were “very good” at their jobs and they felt well cared for in the home. Staff received the training and support they needed to be competent in their roles. Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 for people who lacked capacity to make a decision and deprivation of liberty safeguards to make sure they were not restricted unnecessarily. People’s safety was protected without compromising their rights to lead an independent lifestyle.

People had a good choice of meals and they felt the quality was very good. People were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their nutrition and hydration needs. Any changes in people’s health were referred to the relevant health care agencies. A health care professional we spoke with felt the home had really helped a person to improve their health.

People were treated with respect and dignity. People described the staff as “kind and caring” and “wonderful”. One person described the home as a “happy family”. Another person said, “It is homely, warm and friendly - like coming home.” There were warm, positive interactions between staff and the people who lived there.

People enjoyed individual and group activities at the home. People enjoyed going out with staff for walks, shopping or other local trips. Staff were knowledgeable about each person and knew how to support them. People’s care records included details of their preferences and how they were involved in their care.

People had information about how to make a complaint or comment. They said they would comfortable about telling the registered manager if they had any concerns and felt confident these would be acted upon. There had been no complaints for over a year.

The registered manager made herself accessible to people, relatives and staff. People spent time chatting with the registered manager and staff about their views. There was an open, friendly and welcoming culture in the home. Staff said they felt supported by the registered manager and felt valued by the provider.

Staff said the registered manager had made many improvements to the home over the past year and they were proud of the ‘gold standard’ rating the home had achieved from local authority commissioners.

The provider did not always monitor the quality the service in a systematic way but spent a lot of time at the home talking with people and staff. People, their relatives and staff were asked for their views about the home and these were used to improve the service.

30 December 2013

During a routine inspection

During the inspection we were able to observe the experiences of the people who used the service. We found that there were sixteen people who used the service and we managed to speak with some of them. One person told us, 'It's not bad here. The staff have been very good to me'. Another told us, 'It's alright here, the food is also very good. I like the staff'. We also spoke with the manager of Rowlandson House and the four staff members on duty. Staff told us they were well supported in their work.

We saw that people who used the service were spoken to and supported in a sensitive and respectful manner. The manager told us that people who used the service were involved in day to day decision-making wherever possible.

We saw that the people using the service related well with the staff. We saw that the staff communicated well and appropriately with people, addressing them by the title of their choosing. One relative we spoke to was very positive about the care received by their relatives and told us, 'It's absolutely brilliant at this home. The care is good and I feel I can talk to the staff about anything'.

The manager told us that she involved the relatives of people living in the home. She told us that all the people who used the service were supported to have regular contact with their families.

'It's alright here.'

'I can rely on the staff here.'

'I like it here. The staff are so good to you.'

We found that before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider had acted in accordance with their wishes. Where people did not have the capacity to consent, the provider acted in accordance with legal requirements.

We found that people who used the service had their care and welfare needs met.

We found that people were safeguarded against abuse.

We found that the staff members were trained and supported to deliver care and treatment safely.

We found that people's views were important and listened to. We found that there was an effective complaints system in place.

25 October 2012

During a routine inspection

Some people were not able to tell us directly what they thought about the service. However, during our visit we spent time observing how care staff supported people and this was positive and respectful.

Care plans were written in a clear and easy to understand way and people's personal preferences were clearly recorded.

There were sufficient staff on duty to support people for their care needs. We looked at how the service recruited staff by checking five staff files. These showed that the appropriate checks and procedures were being followed.

Comments from relatives included, "The staff are always available to talk to.", "The manager has been great and keeps me informed of what is happening." and "I pop in most days and I know my mam is in safe hands."

12 January 2012

During a routine inspection

People we spoke with told us that they were involved in the decision to come and live at Rowlandson House. They also said that they contributed to the assessments that were carried out by the home and also by the social workers. People also told us that they felt that the staff involved them in their care.

We saw that the staff listened attentively when they spoke with people, and were courteous with them and acted professionally. We also saw staff assisting people with grooming to promote their dignity and enhance their self-esteem.

People's comments include, 'I have no concerns', 'There is nothing to complain about here', 'We are well looked after here', 'Staff were always at hand to give people the help they needed'.