Fairlight Nursing Home

Updated 27 July 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was undertaken by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Fairlight Nursing Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Fairlight Nursing Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. However, the service did have a manager who was in the process or registering with CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR), and the monthly reports submitted in line with conditions on the providers registration. The PIR is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 12 people who used the service and eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. The Expert by Experience made calls to relatives remotely by phone. We spoke with 17 members of staff including the quality assurance and deputy managers, manager's assistant, registered nurses, care managers, carers, housekeeping staff, maintenance staff, the activities team and the chef. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the leadership team to validate evidence found. We looked at staff rota’s, minutes from meetings and audit and quality assurance records. We spoke with the manager who was not present at the time of the on-site inspection.

Updated 27 July 2022

About the service

Fairlight Nursing Home is situated in Rustington, West Sussex. It is a residential 'care home' which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 62 people. People living at the service have a range of needs including physical disabilities, nursing needs, and needs associated with older age and frailty. Some people were living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 57 people living in the home. The home accommodates people over two buildings which are joined together. Both buildings had been adapted to suit people’s needs and one part of the home was adapted for people living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Since our last inspection it was evident the managers of the service and the staff had made improvements which had raised the standard of care people received. Processes for managing medicines and quality assurance and monitoring systems had been revised and embedded. This had improved managerial oversight and the overall governance of the home.

People were protected from avoidable harm as risks to people's health and safety were identified and assessed. People and their relatives told us they felt safe and were cared for by staff who knew them well. One person told us, “I enjoy it here, I’m well looked after. If I was worried about anything, I’d tell the nurses.” A relative said, “My [person] is in a good place, I feel that they are safe.”

People received their medicines as prescribed and improved practices now ensured medicines were managed safely. Accidents, incidents and safeguarding concerns were reported and investigated as required and actions taken to prevent reoccurrence. People were protected from the risk of abuse and staff were aware of their safeguarding duties and how to report concerns.

People received a comprehensive assessment and felt involved in discussions about their care. People were supported by staff who had completed training in line with people’s needs and were equipped with the skills and competence to deliver safe and effective care. Staff were recruited safely and received supervision where opportunities to develop and feedback about their practice were discussed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People had access to external healthcare services and were supported to attend appointments and monitor their health, for example, check-ups with the dentist, optician and audiology.

People were observed in a homely environment adapted for their needs and were supported to drink enough and maintain a balanced diet. People spoke positively about the food and could choose from a varied menu developed by a chef who collated and acted on people’s feedback.

People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff interactions with people were warm and caring. People were happy and the home had a pleasant atmosphere. A relative told us, “Staff are caring and have a good attitude.”

People and their relatives were complimentary about the service, the staff and the management team. Comments included, “I find the manager approachable and they care staff listen” and, “The staff are caring, my [person] is clean and tidy and the care has improved.”

The culture of the service had improved, and staff told us morale amongst the team was “getting better.” The manager embraced continuous learning and improving care. They told us, "I feel I have oversight of the service. People are feeling content and safe. It's nice."

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

Following an inspection undertaken on 30 November 2020 (report published 5 June 2021) we served a Notice of Decision imposing conditions on the provider's registration. The provider was required to submit monthly reports to CQC to demonstrate their oversight of risks and provide assurance that appropriate actions to mitigate risks had been taken. The last rating for this home was Requires Improvement (report published 11 November 2021). There were continued breaches of regulation in relation to the leadership and management of the home and management of medicines. The conditions of registration remained imposed. The provider continued to submit monthly reports to CQC to provide assurance of the management of risk.

At this inspection enough improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) and regulation 17 (good governance).

Why we inspected

We undertook this comprehensive inspection to check the provider had complied with the conditions imposed on their registration. We also needed to ensure that actions submitted in their monthly reports were embedded and confirm they now met legal requirements.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Fairlight Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.