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Terms and Conditions of Residence
General
The purpose of the Old Vicarage is to provide a high standard of care, comfort, cuisine and consideration to elderly people when they can no longer manage all the work and responsibility of looking after themselves in their own homes. It should be made clear that it is a Residential Care Home for the Elderly (over 65s), not a Nursing Home. The Staff are not nurses but have been carefully selected for their various qualities and experience in providing first class care with warmth and understanding. Many are undergoing training with us. The Home is staffed round the clock.
The first month of a new Resident's stay is regarded as a trial period with no commitment on either side. We hope residents will feel comfortable enough to make the arrangement permanent. Staff and other residents will undoubtedly go out of their way to welcome you and help you settle in. Please bear in mind that existing residents have chosen to come and live here and make for themselves the home they want within our four walls, as you yourself may want to do. We ask you to respect their preferences and particularly to bear in mind that their room is, in effect, their home and they are entitled to privacy in it.
Permanent residents are encouraged to bring their own furniture and effects. If required by the resident, an inventory of such items will be agreed and both the resident and the proprietors will keep a copy. The proprietors can accept no responsibility for loss or damage to any item so listed except that insurance cover is arranged up to £500 per claim per resident (with an excess of £100). Should the furniture and effects of the resident be valued at more than the above sum, the resident may wish to consider taking out further insurance.
Each resident’s room is fitted with a Safe operated by a digital keypad so that cash and valuables can be securely locked away.
TV AND RADIO
Residents normally bring their own radio and/or television. They should know that a licence is held by the Home, which means that they do not require their own license. Residents who are at all deaf should know that equipment is available to enable them to hear their television without turning the volume up and possibly disturbing other residents. We can supply the name and telephone number for this service.
VISITORS
Are welcome at any time although lunch 12.00-1.00 and suppertime 5.00-5.45 should be avoided unless prior arrangements have been made.
MEDICINES
Please bring any medicines you may be taking with you and also the dosages prescribed. We administer medication as required to each resident generally but if you wish to take charge of your own medication and be responsible for taking it according to the doctor’s instructions we are happy that you should. Residents who are responsible for their own medication must alert staff at least 3 days before repeat prescriptions are due. All incoming medicines must be booked in by the person in charge on every occasion so that dosages can be updated.
CLOTHES
These should be clearly marked with nametapes, so that easy sorting and identification is possible. No responsibility is taken for any loss of clothes inadequately marked. Articles that require hand washing place an enormous additional burden on the staff. Please buy machine washable articles where at all possible and also avoid Damart underwear that will not stand either washing or tumble drying at normal temperatures.
PETS
Where residents wish to bring a pet with them, arrangements can be made providing agreement can be reached with the Management team.
SUGGESTIONS
Residents are encouraged to treat the Old Vicarage as home and so are encouraged to state their preferences. In the unlikely event that these are in any way contentious or may affect other residents such suggestions would normally be put to a full meeting of residents so that all can have their say.
NOTICE
Either the resident or the Management may terminate a resident's stay by issuing one month's notice, the month to start on the day on which notice is given. Where a resident fails to give notice the Management reserves the right to make a charge to cover the period until the room is re-occupied, any such charge not to exceed one month's fees.
We reserve the right to terminate a resident’s stay if their behavior has an adverse effect on the other residents. Any resident who abuses another resident in any way will be asked to leave in order to protect all residents’ rights under the Care Standards Act of 2000.
COMPLAINTS
Complaints should be addressed to Nicole Myram the Manager of the home. She will investigate the complaint in accordance with the Care Standards Act and, depending on its type and severity; an answer will be forthcoming as quickly as possible. All complaints are documented, and can be answered in writing within 28 days, if this is preferred, again depending on the type of complaint. If the complaint is not satisfactorily resolved the resident or their representative may wish to contact the Commission for Social Care Inspection at Ground Floor, Riverside Chambers, Tangier, Taunton TA1 4AL. Tel. 01823 345960
FEES
The fee quoted is to cover the costs of accommodation, care, meals, snacks, refreshments, use of the public telephone, laundry (but not dry cleaning), room cleaning and heating, medical requirements and some basic toiletries. In other words it covers all the basic living expenses including any entertainment and outings. The resident is responsible for additional orders and requirements such as telephone bills (where they have a telephone fitted in their own room), newspapers, magazines, hairdressing, chiropody and other supplies that are particular to the needs of the individual. The basic room fee as quoted provides for total attention by the staff during day duty hours (7.30am - 9pm) and emergency attention from 9pm through to 7.30am. All fees are payable in advance, Resident’s are urged to set up a Standing Order with their Bank as soon as possible after taking up residence. Please arrange for funds to be released in time to reach our bank by the first day of each calendar month. Monthly fees will be calculated by taking the weekly fee, multiplying it by 52 and dividing by 12.
The Old Vicarage bank details are as below.
Nat west Bank PLC
290 Wells Road
Knowle
Bristol
BS99 5AT
The Old Vicarage (Churchill) LTD
Account no: 63076179
Sort code: 60-12-29
Where a Standing Order is not appropriate they should discuss an alternative arrangement with Nicole Myram, the Home Manager.
ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE
We would remind you of the availability of Attendance Allowance to assist with payment of fees. On taking up residence, application should be made immediately even though the net gain for some residents will be negligible. However once the need has been established it will enable residents to move from the daytime rate to the 24-hour care rate when their health justifies this. This is most important because we do make a surcharge for people needing a lot of attention at night. The amount of this surcharge is the amount provided by Attendance Allowance at the high (24 hr) rate
FEE INCREASES
Residents can expect an annual fee increase to compensate for general cost increases including inflation. They will be notified by letter in March, and the increase will take effect in April. Supplementary fee increases may be made at any time where a resident's health deteriorates and they require more assistance.
RECORDS
We think it prudent to hold on file full instructions as to how we should proceed in the event of the sudden death of a resident. A sheet is attached hereto and we ask you to complete it in full so that this important information is on file and available in detail immediately if needed.