Background to this inspection
Updated
19 December 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
The inspection was carried out by one inspector on 15 November 2017. It was a comprehensive inspection and was unannounced.
Before the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service which included notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law. We looked at previous inspection reports and contacted seven community professionals for feedback. We received feedback from 3 professionals.
We reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR).This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help us plan the inspection.
During the inspection we spoke with the three people who use the service. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, general manager and two care staff. One of the care staff was a volunteer. We looked at three people's care plans, monitoring records and medicine recording sheets. We reviewed two staff files including recruitment records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including, accident/incident records, audits, training records and a number of other documents relating to health and safety. For example, the fire risk assessment, fire safety checks and engineer reports on the stair lift.
Updated
19 December 2017
This was a comprehensive inspection and took place on 15 November 2017. It was unannounced.
Far End Residential Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Far End Residential Home is a care home without nursing for up to three people requiring support and personal care by reason of age. At the time of the inspection three people lived at the service. The service is separated into two well defined areas. People are accommodated on the upper floor of the house in large individual bedrooms .There is a shared bathroom, toilet and kitchen with a garden room providing communal living space on the ground floor. The remainder of the lower floor is occupied by the registered manager and general manager who live on the premises. Outside there is a large garden for people to enjoy.
At the last inspection in November 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
The home is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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. At the time of the inspection a registered manager was in post and assisted with the inspection.
People continued to receive safe care from the service. Risk assessments were completed and measures taken to reduce identified risks without restricting people’s freedom. Recruitment procedures were followed to ensure as far as possible only suitable staff were employed. Staff were trained to safeguard and protect people. They reported concerns promptly when necessary. People received their medicines safely when they required them.
People continued to receive effective care from staff who were trained and had shown they had the necessary skills to fulfil their role. However, refresher training in topics considered mandatory by the provider was not all completed at the frequency recommended as current best practice. We have made a recommendation that the provider refer to the current best practice guidance on ongoing training for social care staff.
Staff were supported through one to one meetings, appraisals and daily conversations with the managers. Staff were encouraged to seek advice, discuss and review their work and develop their skills and knowledge. People were supported with nutrition and hydration and had sufficient to eat and drink to maintain their health and well-being. People’s healthcare needs were monitored and advice was sought from healthcare professionals whenever necessary. 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.
The service remained caring and people reported staff were kind, caring, compassionate and patient. People’s privacy and dignity were protected and staff treated them with respect. People and when appropriate their relatives, were involved in making decisions about their care.
The service remained responsive to people’s individual needs. Staff knew people well and individual care plans were person-centred. They focused on and respected the diverse needs and preferences of each person and their desired outcomes. People knew how to complain and felt they were listened to if they ever raised an issue. The service was working to the accessible information standard. People were supported to engage in meaningful activities of their choice.
The service continued to be well-led. There was an open, friendly and person centred culture. The managers had clear values which they demonstrated by example. They sought and listened to feedback to make improvements in the service. Systems were in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.