We carried out a review of the data available to us about Valley View and Penshaw House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Valley View and Penshaw House, you can give feedback on this service.
Valley View and Penshaw House is a residential care home which can provide personal care for up to 44 people. Valley View accommodates people on the ground floor of an adapted building. Penshaw House, opened in June 2019, provides 6 self-contained suites. The home accommodates older people, some of whom were living with a dementia and younger adults. At the time of this inspection there were 43 people living at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe and were happy with their care. Risks to individuals and the environment were well managed however some staff had limited knowledge of evacuation procedures. People were safeguarded from abuse. Medicines were administered and managed safely. Staff were recruited in a safe way. The home was clean.
We received mixed views about staffing levels from some people, relatives and staff. Staffing levels did not impact on the service people received, although some staff’s interaction with residents was variable. We saw at times during the inspection staff were not always visible. We have made a recommendation about the deployment of staff to ensure enough staff are always available.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff received appropriate training and supervision. People's health was well managed. Staff worked closely with other professionals to provide effective care.
Staff were kind and had developed caring relationships with people. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity. People’s independence was promoted. Staff ensured people maintained links with their friends and relatives.
People’s care was based on detailed assessments and person-centred care plans although some records needed review. A range of activities were available. People felt confident raising concerns. Complaints had been dealt with effectively. Staff were aware of good practice in end of life care. People's religious beliefs and preferences were respected.
The provider and manager monitored the quality of the service to make sure they delivered a high standard of care. People and relatives were encouraged to provide feedback.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 24 August 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
The service was last inspected in July 2016, at which time the service was in breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. At the inspection of July 2016 we identified that the provider was unable to provide assurances, due to the electrical installation being deemed as unsatisfactory, that the premises were safe. We also found not all staff training was up to date. At this inspection we found the provider had ensured all necessary action had been taken to ensure the electrical installation was safe and fit for purpose. We also found staff training was up to date and well managed. At our inspection of July 2016 we rated the service as Requires Improvement. Following this inspection we rated the service as Good.
Valley View and The Lodge is a care home in Penshaw, providing accommodation and personal care for up to 38 people, including people living with dementia. There were 34 people using the service at the time of our inspection. The home is divided into two areas: one area for elderly people, including people living with dementia, and the other area for younger adults with learning and/or physical disabilities.
The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like directors, 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.
All areas of the building were clean, with an infection control champion in place and another handyman recently hired.
The storage, administration and disposal of medicines were safe and in line with guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Controlled drugs were safely stored and regularly audited.
Risks to people were managed through person-centred risk assessments and care plans. Both were reviewed regularly and had regard to relevant professional advice.
Staff were aware of their safeguarding responsibilities and knew what to do if they identified potential signs of abuse. People we spoke with and their relatives felt staff helped keep them safe.
Pre-employment checks of staff were in place, including Disclosure and Barring Service checks, references and identity checks.
Visiting professionals had confidence in staff, as did commissioning professionals we spoke with.
Staff completed a range of training relevant to people’s needs and this training was regularly refreshed. Supervision and appraisal of staff was well organised and effective.
Staff interacted warmly with people who used the service and had built positive, friendly relationships with them.
People’s choices at mealtimes were respected and their views listened to when planning menus. Kitchen staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s specialised needs.
The premises benefitted from some aspects of dementia-friendly design and the registered manager was keen for more areas of the building to benefit from such additions.
Staff displayed a good knowledge of people’s needs and individualities, whilst care planning documentation was well organised and sufficiently detailed.
Individual and group activities were well planned, with people’s involvement, and meant people enjoyed a range of outings. These were enabled by the use of the service’s minibus.
The registered manager was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and best interest decision making, when people were unable to make decisions themselves. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The atmosphere at the home was relaxed, welcoming and at times vibrant. People who used the service, relatives and external stakeholders agreed. The culture was a caring, open one where people were encouraged and enabled to feel at home.
The registered manager had a good understanding of the area and local community and had formed strong community links.
Staff, relatives and external professionals we spoke with described the registered manager as proactive, professional. People who used the service knew them well and confirmed they took an active interest in their wellbeing.
Valley View and The Lodge is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care for up to 38 people. The home is divided into two areas: one area provided care for elderly people and the other provided care for young physically disabled people. At the time of our inspection 27 elderly people and 8 young physically disabled people were living at the service. The home does not provide nursing care.
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.
The provider had breached the regulations because the last check of the electrical installation system dated December 2014 was unsatisfactory. We found some actions classed as potentially dangerous were still outstanding at the time of our inspection.
You can see what action we have asked the registered provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.
Other health and safety checks were carried out regularly and were up to date when we inspected the home.
People were happy with the care they received. They told us kind and considerate care workers provided their care. One person said, “It is lovely. They look after me very well.” Another person commented, “The nurses [care workers] are very good. The nurses [care workers] are terrific, very friendly.” A third person told us, “[Staff are] very nice, they have always been good with us. They are good, they are nice girls, lovely people.”
People told us the home was safe. One person commented, “I feel safe here.”
Administration records for creams and ointments and fridge temperature checks were inaccurate. Medicines administration records (MARs) for all oral medicines were accurate. Medicines were stored securely.
Care workers showed they had a good understanding of safeguarding and the whistle blowing procedure. All care workers we spoke with said they would report concerns straightaway. They also said they felt concerns would be dealt with effectively. One care worker told us, “I wouldn’t have a problem using it [whistle blowing procedure]. I would have no issue with raising concerns.” Another care worker said, “Concerns would definitely be dealt with.”
Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs in a timely manner. One person commented, “If I pull the chord in the bathroom they are there in a flash.” Another person said, “There seems to be plenty of staff around.” Recruitment checks were in place to ensure new care workers were suitable to work with vulnerable people.
Incidents and accidents were logged and investigated with details recorded of the actions taken to keep people safe.
Care workers told us they were well supported and received regular one to one supervision. One care worker said, “I am really well supported. Any problems get sorted straightaway. We have supervision all the time.” Fire safety and moving and assisting training was overdue for most care workers. The outstanding training had been booked in for the week following our inspection. Other training was up to date.
The provider was following the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations were in place where required. We found examples of MCA assessments and best interests decisions made on behalf of people who lacked capacity.
People received the support they needed to meet their nutritional needs. One person told us, “Meals are okay. I am not a person for a hot dinner. I can have what I want to eat. Staff take me to the dining room.” We observed the lunch time experience and found care workers supported people in line with their assessed needs.
Care records showed people had regular input from external health professionals, such as GPs, community nurses and speech and language therapists (SALT).
People’s needs had been assessed and care plans developed to help care workers provide the care people needed. These were evaluated regularly to help ensure they met people’s current needs. We saw care plans had been updated following changes in people’s needs.
A range of activities were organised for people to take part in if they wanted, such as group games, music sessions and going outings in the mini-bus. One person commented, “You get taken out to the shops, you go to different cafes. You get out to concerts and we have concerts in here.”
People told us they did not have any concerns about their care. They confirmed they knew how to complain if they became unhappy. One person said, “I don’t need to [make a complaint]. I would tell the manager if I had concerns.” Complaints received previously had been investigated and action taken to prevent the situation happening again.
Care workers said the registered manager was approachable. They also said the home had a good atmosphere.
Regular quality assurance checks were carried out and these had been successful in identifying areas for improvement.
Care workers were able to share their views and suggestions about the service, through attending regular team meetings or talking to the manager. One care worker said, “Every month there is a team meeting. Everybody has their say.”