Archived: The Fold Care Home

Updated 18 November 2015

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 team consisted of an Inspector. We had received information from the service regarding a recent incident and this was followed up at this inspection. The inspection took place over one day on 03 September 2015.

Prior to carrying out the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the home. We contacted Social Services and Healthwatch for information regarding this service. Healthwatch had no information to provide us and Social services had no specific concerns.

We looked for a variety of records which related to the management of the service such as policies, recruitment and staff training. We also viewed two people’s care records. One person who lived in the service and one person who no longer lived there.

Updated 18 November 2015

This was an unannounced inspection, which took place on the 03 September 2015.

The service provides accommodation and care for three people who do not need nursing care. The provider has no other locations. At the time of the inspection there was one person living in the home. The service was previously inspected on 19 May 2014 and meet all the areas inspected.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We checked medicines management. People were receiving medicines that were prescribed and at a time that suited them as individuals. However clear and accurate records were not always kept of medicines given by care workers. Some medicines were not being given in accordance with the manufactures and prescribers instructions.

We checked how the service followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The MCA governs decision-making on behalf of adults who may not be able to make particular decisions for themselves. The requirements of the MCA were understood in principal by the registered provider/manager. As the service provides care to no more than three people at any time the staff have a high level of understanding of the individuals people’s needs and views. As such we were able to observe that there were arrangements in place to make sure that people gave valid consent to the care and treatment that they received.

The staff and people we spoke with confirmed that there is always an ongoing discussion about what peoples choices, preferences are and how they would wish to receive any care. At this inspection there were no people living in the service that had an assessment that they lacked capacity. The registered provider/manager explained that the service would be unable to fully meet the needs of people who lacked capacity as the service promotes as much independence as possible. The registered provider/manager agreed that this needed to be reflected in the service users guide and statement of purpose which provides information to people moving into the service about the services that can be provided.

The service provided care and support that was designed around the individual’s wishes and routines ensuring that they received person centred care at all times. People were complimentary about the caring nature of staff. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and we were told that care was provided with patience and kindness. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.

Staff were knowledgeable about what actions they would take if abuse was suspected or were unhappy with the care that they saw being provided. They were confident that they would address any concerns if identified.

Safe recruitment procedures were followed and staff said that they undertook an induction programme.

People received food and drink which met their nutritional needs and they could access appropriate health, social and medical support, as soon as it was needed.

The building of the service is a domestic residence in an residential street. This assists in providing a welcoming and homely atmosphere to the home. We looked at the environment and saw that it was maintained safely and clean. People living in the service were able to bring in their own personal items in order to make the service feel as though it was their own home.