Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage

Updated 9 September 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 was carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage 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. Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage 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

At the time of our inspection there were 2 registered managers in post. One registered manager was on planned long term leave.

Notice of inspection

The first day of the inspection was unannounced. The second day was announced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We also requested feedback from Healthwatch to obtain their views of the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who lived at the home about their experience of the care provided and 4 relatives. We spent time observing how people were cared for. Additionally, we received feedback from a further relative via email.

We spoke with 8 members of staff including the registered manager, an acting manager from 1 of the provider’s other homes who was supporting the registered manager, senior care staff and care staff.

We reviewed a range of records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. This included 3 people’s care records, which included risk assessments and 3 people’s medication files. We also looked at other documents such as, training, quality assurance records, policies, and procedures and 5 staff files in relation to recruitment were reviewed.

Updated 9 September 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 14 people. The site consists of 2 purpose-built houses, named Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage respectively. The service provides support to younger adults with a learning disability who may also have physical disabilities and/or sensory impairments. At the time of our inspection, 14 people were living at the home.

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

Right Support

People received personalised care and support built around their needs and wishes. Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. People’s needs were assessed, and care plans were developed with them, and their relatives where required. People’s safety risks were considered, and clear guidance was in place to support staff. 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. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community. Staff supported people to maintain relationships that were important to them and engage in activities they enjoyed.

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs. People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs, and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.

Right Culture

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments, or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. People and those important to them, including advocates, were involved in planning their care. Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate. The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people’s views. People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and inclusivity.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 7 June 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staff practices. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

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 found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Falcons Rest and Poachers Cottage 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.