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Care Services

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North Park, Darlington.

North Park in Darlington is a Residential home specialising in the provision of services relating to accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care, caring for adults over 65 yrs, caring for adults under 65 yrs, dementia, mental health conditions and physical disabilities. The last inspection date here was 11th December 2019

North Park is managed by Barchester Healthcare Homes Limited who are also responsible for 186 other locations

Contact Details:

Ratings:

For a guide to the ratings, click here.

Safe: Good
Effective: Requires Improvement
Caring: Good
Responsive: Good
Well-Led: Good
Overall: Good

Further Details:

Important Dates:

    Last Inspection 2019-12-11
    Last Published 2017-05-31

Local Authority:

    Darlington

Link to this page:

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Inspection Reports:

Click the title bar on any of the report introductions below to read the full entry. If there is a PDF icon, click it to download the full report.

3rd May 2017 - During a routine inspection pdf icon

We inspected North Park on3 May 2017. When we last inspected the service in November 2014 we found that the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the areas that we looked at and rated the service as good. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'. At the time of our inspection there were 48 older people using the service.

The service had a registered manager in place. 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.

We found the top floor which catered for people living with dementia needed a review of the environment as the communal corridor looked tired. We noted improvements could be made to the design features and adaptations to support people who were living with dementia and we made a recommendation to the registered provider to this effect.

Staff understood the procedure they needed to follow if they suspected abuse might be taking place. Risks to people and the home environment were identified and plans were put in place to help manage the risk and minimise them occurring. Medicines were managed safely with an effective system in place. Staff competencies, around administering medication, were regularly checked.

There were sufficient staff employed to meet the needs of people who used the service. We found that safe recruitment and selection procedures were in place and appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work.

People were supported by a regular team of staff who were knowledgeable about people’s likes, dislikes and preferences. A comprehensive training plan was in place and all staff had completed up to date training. 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.

People were supported to maintain good health and had access to healthcare professionals and services. People received the support they needed from the G.P and community matrons. Where needed, referrals were made to dietician or speech and language therapy.

People’s care plans described the care and support they needed. Care plans detailed people’s needs and preferences. People we spoke with were not always aware they had a care plan in place and we noted some care plans could be improved to reflect a more person centred approach consistently across the service.

The registered provider had a system in place for responding to people’s concerns and complaints. People were regularly asked for their views and the registered manager was a regular presence around all areas of the home.

The staff team were motivated and enthusiastic and committed to ensuring people were well cared for. All staff informed us they were happy working at the home and morale was good. There was a clear management structure in place and oversight from the registered provider. There were systems in place to monitor the safety and drive the continuous improvement of the quality of the service.

The provider was meeting the conditions of their registration. They were submitting notifications in line with legal requirements. They were displaying their previous CQC performance ratings at the service and on their website.

21st October 2013 - During a routine inspection pdf icon

We spoke with eight people from 52 living at the home. 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 .People told us; “I like it here, I know I’m safe” and another person said; “I’ve been treated very well here”.

We witnessed two care staff providing very gentle and sensitive support for someone who was at the end of life.

There was a specialist unit on the top floor of the home which catered for people with dementia. The environment had been specially adapted by the use of colour coded doors, reminiscence shops and memory boxes on doors to help people find their way around and to feel comfortable in their surroundings. We noted that some of the dementia specific décor was looking “tired” but the manager showed us replacement pictures she had sourced and was waiting for them to be replaced by maintenance staff.

There were sufficient staff on duty to support people for their care needs. We saw staff were recruited safely and appropriate checks were obtained and induction training provided.

We saw the provider had a quality monitoring process in place to check the quality of the service, which included seeking the views of people and their relatives. There was also a system for reporting and acknowledging complaints which was well publicised around the home.

1st October 2012 - During a routine inspection pdf icon

We spoke with eight people living at the home and during our visit we spent time observing how care staff supported people and this was positive and respectful. We also carried out a Short Observational Framework Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a tool to use if we are unable to find out people's experiences through talking to them (for example, if they have dementia or other cognitive impairments).

There was a specialist unit on the top floor of the home which catered for people with dementia. The environment had been specially adapted by the use of colour coded doors, reminiscence shops and memory boxes on doors to help people find their way around and to feel comfortable in their surroundings.

We had lunch in one of the dining rooms and saw staff spend time with people and they supported them with dignity and respect. People were assisted to make clear choices at lunch by staff showing them the options for the main meal already plated on small serving plates. There were sufficient staff on duty to support people for their care needs and there was a training and supervision programme in place for all staff. We spoke with relatives and visitors to the home who were very positive in their comments and about the care their relatives received. One person told us; ”My mum is much more content here than where she was before” and “If I have any problems I raise them and I know they will be dealt with”.

18th October 2011 - During an inspection in response to concerns pdf icon

We visited this location on a weekday and were able to talk to six users of the service. We were told that they ‘like it here’, the ‘staff are very kind’ and that the home is ‘alright’. Comments were also made that the food is ‘excellent’, ‘fine’ and that there is ‘enough to eat’. Further it was said that they ‘like it here’, the ‘bathrooms are clean’ and that they can make their bedrooms as ‘personal as they like’.

1st January 1970 - During a routine inspection pdf icon

The inspection visit took place on the 6th and 7th November 2014 the first day was unannounced.

We last inspected North Park on 21st October 2013 and found the service was not in breach of any regulations at that time.

The service provides accommodation for up to 60 older people. North Park provides residential care alongside care for people living with dementia. The home is situated in Darlington and is near to all local amenities and is a modern, purpose-built facility with views over a local park.

There is a manager in post who is registered with CQC. 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.

There were policies and procedures in place in relation to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The manager had the appropriate knowledge to know when an application should be made and how to submit one. This meant people were safeguarded. We found the location to be meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People told us they felt safe at North Park and that staff were always kind towards them. We saw people being given choices and encouraged to take part in all aspects of day to day life at the home, from helping to set the table for lunch to being involved in changing the system of mealtimes which was discussed with everyone prior to its implementation.

Relatives told us they were provided with information about their relative and involved with the care planning process. We also saw how people were involved in participating in their monthly care review, for one person with dementia, this was done sensitively and knowledgably by the member of staff concerned.

We saw that staff were recruited safely and were given appropriate training before they commenced employment. Staff told us about how training in dementia had helped them understand more from the person’s perspective about living with this condition. There were sufficient staff on duty to meet the needs of the people and the staff team were very supportive of the managers and each other. Retention of staff at this home was very good.

We saw people’s care plans were personalised and had been well assessed. Staff told us they referred to care plans regularly and they showed regular review that involved the person if they were able.

Staff told us they felt listened to and were able to talk to the managers and relatives and people who lived at the service also confirmed the management was approachable and accessible.

 

 

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