Fernica (Residential Care Home)

Updated 30 November 2023

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 team consisted of 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Fernica 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. Fernica is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. The deputy manager had also submitted an application to register, and the role would be shared. We are currently assessing this application.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 22 September 2023 and ended on 10 October 2023. We visited the location’s service on 26 and 28 September 2023.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This 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 5 people about the care they received, and 2 relatives about their experience of the service provided. We spoke with 4 members of staff during the 2 days of inspection, including the registered manager, deputy manager, and 2 support workers.

We reviewed 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. We looked at 3 people’s care plans in detail and other care records. We reviewed records relating to medicines management and a variety of records relating the management and quality monitoring of the service.

We spoke with the nominated individual, on site on the second day of our inspection. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We spoke with a commissioner of services involved with the home after the inspection. We continued to liaise with management around the secure supply of evidence.

Updated 30 November 2023

About the service

Fernica (Residential Care Home), known as Fernica, is a residential care home providing care and support for to up to 13 people. The service provides support to people diagnosed with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 10 people using the service.

Each person has their own bedroom with shared communal areas, such as bathrooms, lounges and a dining area. People have access to an outside space with a smoking area.

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

Staffing arrangements had improved. Whilst long-term appointments had not always been successful there was more consistency in the staffing arrangements, as the deputy manager had forged links with local recruitment agencies.

Risks posed to people were included within wider care plans but weren’t always clearly identified. We made a recommendation with regards to the documentation of risk assessments separately, using a risk assessment tool. The deputy manager took appropriate action.

Care plans identified people's support needs and were reviewed. People continued to receive their medicines as prescribed. Systems were in place to protect people from abuse and people told us they felt safe living at the home. Any safeguarding concerns were reported to the appropriate agencies. Premises checks and all maintenance records were up to date. Required test and safety certificates were in place.

After the last inspection the deputy manager told us they intended to submit an application to become registered manager. The role would be shared with the current registered manager. There had been some delays with this but at the time of this inspection an application had been made. Management and oversight of the home had improved but these improvements needed to be fully embedded and sustained.

People we spoke with told us they liked living at Fernica, and that they were well-supported both day and night. There were regular residents' meetings to gain feedback from people and a recent survey had been completed.

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.

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

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 18 January 2023) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service on 22 November 2022. Two breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve staffing and recruitment and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions of Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed 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 Fernica (Residential Care Home) on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.