Aims and Objectives

Heightside Nursing Home strives to offer a highly professional care service for the adult mentally ill, with a personal touch. We offer both short term respite care as well as long term stays. The Home caters for adults, both male and female aged 18 years upwards. With a team of experienced RMN’s, RGN’s and RMNH’s providing 24 hour specialist holistic nursing care we aim to provide a peaceful, supportive and least restrictive environment for all our service users. Service user’s views on all aspects of the service are sought by means of surveys, service users meetings and informal discussion with the staff. We at Heightside believe each person is unique and should be treated as individuals. Therefore we provide a Home where individuality is emphasised, and emphasis is given to:-

Privacy

We respect the rights of the service user to be left alone and undisturbed whenever they wish as long as the environment is safe to do so. They also will have the right to meet family, friends and visitors without being overlooked or overheard. Staff will always show regard for the privacy of individuals.

Dignity

This is the understanding of the Service Users needs and treating them with respect. We will always respect their rights to privacy and confidentiality.

Independence

We will support the Service User to take calculated risks, to make decisions and think and act for themselves, ensuring that a reasonable balance is kept between independence and risk taking. The Service Users care needs will be reviewed regularly to reflect these risks.

Choice

We will ensure the Service Users’ have the opportunity to make informed choices that individuality is respected.

Rights

Heightside promotes human rights for all service users’. We will ensure that no discrimination is evident on the grounds of age, gender, race, language or religion.

Fulfillment

We will enable the Service User to realise their own aims and help them to achieve these goals in all aspects of daily living. We will understand and meet the Service Users spiritual and emotional needs as far as possible and strive to create a lifestyle that is flexible and adaptable as their needs and wishes change.

Philosophy of Care

Heightside Nursing Home aims to provide a friendly, secure, relaxed and homely environment in which the Service Users care, well-being and comfort are of prime importance.

Carers will strive to preserve and maintain the dignity, individuality and privacy of all Service Users within a warm and caring atmosphere, and in doing so will be sensitive to the Service Users ever-changing needs. Such needs may be medical, therapeutic, cultural, psychological, spiritual, emotional, and social, and the Service Users will be encouraged to participate in the development of their individualised care plans in which the involvement of family and friends may be appropriate and is greatly valued.

The Service User always comes first, and they should feel and be treated as a valued member of the community.

The Service User has the right to:-

Be consulted on matters that effect them

All the care staff within the Home will be appropriately trained to deliver the highest standards of care. A continuous staff-training program is implemented to ensure that these high standards are maintained in line with the latest developments in Care Practices as may be laid down in appropriate legislation, regulations and the Care Standards Inspectorate. All the Care Staff are encouraged to achieve a minimum of NVQ Level 2 in Care.

The Home also trains the staff in Food Hygiene, Lifting and Handling, First Aid, Drugs Practice, Protection of Vulnerable Adults, Challenging Behaviours etc.

Accommodation Provided  

Accommodation is arranged in three main areas in order to provide care and facilities for service users’ with differing needs, strengths and capabilities. Each unit has its own staff of qualified nurses and experienced carers who provide 24 hour care.

The Main House

The Main House is registered for thirty-nine service users’ and has twenty-two bedrooms either twin-bedded or single. On the ground floor there is a large television lounge, a quiet lounge, a dining room, smoking area and nursing office. Priority is given to ground floor bedrooms for people who may have mobility problems or who need a higher level of nursing care.  A passenger lift is available to each floor and there are bathrooms and toilets on all floors.  The nurse-call system is connected to all bedrooms, bathrooms toilets and all communal areas. Pleasant garden areas with flower beds and seating are situated on all sides of the House and the grounds include several acres of mature woodland.  All meals, drinks and snacks are provided and there is a full laundry and cleaning service. The Main House aims to provide a relaxed, therapeutic environment for the care of adults with enduring mental illness.

The Mews

The Mews complex consists of a six-bedded unit (Wood villas) and a variety of shared flats and bungalows, all arranged around a pleasant courtyard.  Bungalows and flats are single-sex and are equipped with bathrooms and kitchens.  There are twenty-nine beds in total. There are various communal and dining areas throughout the unit.  This area of the site offers care and rehabilitation to service users’ in order to maximise their daily living and social skills in preparation for independent or supported living in the community.   

The Close Care Unit

The Close Care Unit accommodates 10 residents in a 6-bedded unit and a four bedded bungalow. All rooms are single. There is a higher staffing level on this unit in order to provide for residents who have a need for a higher ratio of supervision.  All catering and domestic services are provided on this unit.

Registered nurses are responsible for dispensing medication and the assessment, implementation and evaluation of the care plans in consultation with the resident, his carers or family, and members of the multi-disciplinary team. Emphasis is placed on the individual’s personal choices, dignity and independence.

The nurses and experienced care staff are able to offer skilled psychological support during periods of distress, confusion or relapse in psychiatric symptoms. Registered nurses monitor any significant changes in the service users’ physical or mental state and make appropriate referrals to the General Practitioner or Consultant Psychiatrist.

In general assistance with care is given according to the service users needs or wishes and independence is encouraged as far as possible. Careful assessment is made of the service user’ needs and staff will assist service users’ to achieve maximum potential.  This is done as discreetly as possible in order to maintain the dignity of the service user.

·        Residents are encouraged to make individual decisions, about diet, dress, what time they go to bed and get up and how they spend their time.

·        A variety of social and leisure activities are offered.

·        Contact with the local community is encouraged with regular outings, either individually or in a group.

·        Regular visits are made by an Optician and a Chiropodist.

·        Surgeries are held weekly in the Main House by the GP and a Consultant Psychiatrist

The Activities Department is situated in the Mews complex. This is equipped with an arts and crafts room, a room furnished with easy chairs and coffee tables which is used for group work, and a rehabilitation kitchen which includes laundry facilities.

Advocacy services are based on site and situated in the Mews complex; the service is accessible and within easy reach of all the service users.

All units are staffed 24hrs a day seven days a week by qualified nurses and experienced care assistants.  The Activities Department and the Advocacy service are open Monday to Friday, but these services are flexible and arrangements can be made to meet assessed needs.

CARE PLAN REVIEW

Once developed the care plan will be regularly reviewed to ensure that the service users needs are being met. The named carer, Manager and other care staff as necessary will review any issues relating to the care plan by the service user.

Family and relatives will be encouraged to participate in the service user’s daily routine as far as reasonably practicable, and will be invited to attend multi-disciplinary team reviews, although they are invited to talk to a member of staff at any time should they have any concerns.

Care plans are reviewed daily on a shift-to-shift basis. At shift handover the service users daily care notes are handed by the out-going staff to the in -coming shift, and discussion takes place. Changes to the care plan may be proposed at this point.

The qualified staff evaluates the care plans monthly and amendments, if required will be made at this time. All amendments to the care plan are recorded in full and signed.  

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND FEES

We are committed to providing value for money within our comprehensive and caring service.

The fees are charged dependent on:

·        The type of facility required and

·        The type of care package and the needs of the individual Service User

Advice is available from the Heightside.

SMOKING AND ALCOHOL

The Home has designated smoking areas in each of the three units. Smoking is also allowed within the grounds. Smoking is not allowed in service users bedrooms under any circumstances.

FIRE SAFETY

CONTACT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Service users family and friends are encouraged to visit regularly and maintain contact by letter or telephone when visiting is not possible. In these cases staff will offer assistance where needed.

Visitors will be welcomed at all reasonable times, and are asked to inform the Nurse-in-Charge of the unit of their arrival and departure. For Security and Fire Safety reasons, visitors must sign the visitors book on each occasion.

If children are to be visiting the Home the Nurse-in-Charge must be informed prior to arrival.

The Service User has the right to refuse to see any visitor, and this will be respected and upheld by the Nurse- in-Charge who will, if necessary, inform the visitors of the service users wishes.

PETS

The keeping of pets within the home is only allowed with written permission from the manager and is dependent on the type of pet the resident wishes to keep and the ability to care for the pet.

COMPLAINTS

If as a service user, relative or friend, you feel there is cause for complaint, you should at first discuss the matter with the Nurse-in-Charge. If the matter is in your opinion, a serious one, or if you remain dissatisfied, you can either speak to, or write to the Home Manager. A full investigation will be made into the complaint, and you will be advised of the results as soon as possible or within 28 days.

If, after this investigation, you are still not satisfied, or if you feel that the complaint is of a serious nature and you wish to speak to the Registration Officer first then you should contact the Care Standards Inspectorate – 1^ST Floor, Unit 4, Petre Road, Clayton Business Park, Clayton le Moors, Accrington, BB5 5JB. Telephone 01254 306600.

BEREAVEMENT

In the unfortunate event of bereavement, the family can expect every possible support and consolation from the staff. Whereas the next of kin usually makes funeral arrangements, the home staff can be relied upon to assist and explain what is required. Where there is no next of kin the staff will take care of the necessary arrangements.

MEALS

All meals are prepared within the home, the meals will be varied and favourite dishes and special diets can be catered for. Service users are encouraged to eat in the dining room but may eat in their room if this is their choice. A few service users, for therapeutic reasons, self cater. The staff gives assistance with this.

TELEPHONE

There is a pay phone for all service users situated in the Mews. For those service users that are unable to use this facility staff will give assistance with alternative arrangements.

MEDICATION

It is the policy of the home that all drugs will be managed and dispensed by the qualified staff and ordered for them under the instructions of the doctor. However, if it is deemed part of a rehabilitation program or in preparation for discharge, medical and nursing staff will undertake a full assessment and monitor any transition.

For any further information contact:

The Administrator

Heightside House Nursing Home

Newchurch Road

Rawtenstall

Lancashire

BB4 9HG  

Telephone 01706 830570