Key Information
On enquiring about a vacancy, we will direct you to our Quiet Room (if you are visiting the home) where you can find all the ‘key information’ that you will need to know. We can post out our Brochure which also includes all of the key information you will need to help you make a decision about us. You will find a copy of our Agreement, Vision Statement, Statement of Purpose, CQC Report, Handbook for people living here, Complaints Policy and other important information that you need to consider when choosing to live in a care home.
Our Agreement will set out our Terms and Conditions of Residency and will include what is and is not included in the fees. It also includes our complaints policy and any rules and/or regulations of tenancy of the home.
This might seem like a lot of information to absorb when making initial enquiries, but this is the way we can reassure you that we are open and transparent about not only the care we can provide but our fees, terms and conditions.
Visit us
If we feel we may be able to meet your individual needs then we will invite you to visit the home, (sometimes relatives and/or friends visit us on your behalf if you are unable to). You will then have the opportunity to meet some of our staff, the people who live here and get a feel for the home. You will be shown communal areas and any bedrooms that are available. If you think you or your relative/friend would like to come and live in Compton House then we will arrange for a senior member of staff to visit you. They will spend time getting to know you, asking lots of questions to enable them to make an expert assessment of your individual needs; they will also tell you about life at Compton House, and will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. You will need to reflect on what you have seen and heard before making your decision.
Following this assessment visit, there will be a meeting at Compton House with the Senior staff to discuss not only your individual needs but the needs of the people who already live here. It is always a careful balance and requires careful consideration and is not just simply about having a vacant room and an enquirer. If we feel we are able to meet your needs then we will offer you a place and if you agree, we will arrange a mutually convenient date for your admission. If we are unable to offer a place we will tell you why.
We constantly review and assess everyone’s needs in our care, if there is a prolonged change in your dependency level this may affect your fees but this will always be discussed with you. Sometimes after careful consideration, even when we have a vacancy we have to refuse admission based on the current needs and best interests of the people who already live here as well as the person enquiring.
Medical Care
We are very fortunate in having the expertise of Dr Shepherd from Lindfield Medical Centre who is responsible for the medical care of our residents who register with Lindfield Medical Centre. Dr Reader visits weekly and sees all residents registered with Lindfield Medical Centre. In addition to his weekly visit he will also visit individual residents when needed during surgery hours. When the surgery is closed the out of hours GP service provide cover to the home at all other times. The Staff of Compton House and Dr Shepherd work closely with other health professionals to ensure every resident’s health is viewed and reviewed holistically and referrals are made as and when felt necessary.
You may of course choose to remain with your own GP, but this must be negotiated between you and your GP and the GP must confirm that they are willing to continue to be responsible for your medical care and be prepared to visit you during the time you live at Compton House.
Visiting Professionals
Physiotherapy, speech and language therapists are also available under the NHS if the criteria are met. Specialist Nurses and professionals are also part of our multi -disciplinary team; ie Pharmacist, MND Nurse, Dieticians and the Falls team. Physiotherapists and chiropodists visit Compton House by private arrangement with you. Price Lists are available in the Key Information Folder in our Quiet Room. We also have regular visits to the home from Vision Call Opticians and Action for Deafness, who will undertake sight and hearing test and fit glasses and hearing aids in the comfort of Compton House.
Fees and Funding
Fees reflect that Compton House is a registered nursing home and is staffed with Registered nurses and qualified Care staff 24 hours a day. Compton House is a not for profit organisation and the fees are used to ensure that we employ and retain staff who are suitably qualified to deliver excellent care, to maintain the building and grounds and ensure the Home is fully compliant with regulatory and legal requirements.
What is included in the fees:-
Full cost of nursing care
Cost of accommodation
Cost of all food and nutrition
Cost of laundry
Social activities & social outings
Cost of energy and utilities
Cost of insurance
What is not included in the fees:-
Physiotherapy (unless arranged via the NHS)
Speech therapy (unless arranged by the NHS)
Chiropody (unless arranged by the NHS)
Care escorts ie for outpatient, dentist, optician appointments
Transport (on occasions you may be eligible for hospital transport)
Hairdressing
Newspapers and magazines
Telephone
All of the above services where the fees are not included can be arranged by you or your relatives at your expense, however the staff will be happy to assist you in organising this. We have price lists for additional services which can be found in the Key Information Folder in our Quiet Room.
With regard to escorting you to outpatient or other appointments, this is not part of our service as it would deplete the care staff available to the other people in the Home. It is the responsibility of your relatives to accompany you on such occasions. If however, occasionally this is not possible and we are able to find a member of the team who is off duty but willing and available to accompany a resident in their place, this would be charged to your account calculated on the member of staffs’ normal pay and time spent accompanying you. Sometimes you will be eligible for hospital transport which we are happy to assist with, but usually it is your responsibility or that of your relative to arrange transport. We have a list of reliable wheelchair taxis if these are required.
The Trustees ask that people wishing to live in Compton House have sufficient funds to pay the full fees for at least two to three years. This is to ensure that all individuals living here will have contributed fairly to the cost of their care. The current funding limit set by the government at the current time is £23,500. This means that the cost of your care has to be paid by you until your funds reach this amount, when you will be entitled to a West Sussex County Council Care and Financial Assessment. The amount that the local authority are prepared to pay for care is a lot less than the actual cost of care and this always leaves a funding gap which can be topped up by relatives and in negotiation with West Sussex Social Services.