Farndale House Care and Support Services

Updated 11 March 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

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

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The agency was managed by an ‘individual provider’ who is a ‘registered person’ and was in day to day charge. Registered persons are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection, because it is a small agency and we needed to be sure the provider would be in the office to support the inspection.

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. Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does 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 visited the agency office on 4 December 2019 and spoke with the provider, assistant manager, one care worker and one person receiving a service. We also spoke with another person receiving a service on the telephone. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and four staff files in relation to recruitment, supervision and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. An Expert by Experience spoke over the telephone with one person receiving a service and three people’s relatives to seek their feedback.

After the inspection

We obtained further information from the provider and assistant manager following the inspection. We received email feedback from three care workers and spoke with a healthcare professional about their views of the service.

Updated 11 March 2020

About the service

Farndale House Care and Support Service is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to children and adults diagnosed with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorders, dementia related conditions, and physical disabilities living in their own homes.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection, there were 12 people living in local towns and villages receiving personal care.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

A positive culture was firmly established within the agency. This meant people were supported by exceptionally responsive and attentive staff that knew them well and helped them to achieve their potential.

Care was bespoke to the individual and delivered by committed staff. Without exception feedback was extremely complimentary about the dedicated nature and approach of the staff and management team.

Support was highly flexible and personalised, adjusting to people's changing needs. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

The leadership of the service continued to be outstanding. The provider, supported by their assistant manager, had established a person-centred culture amongst the staff team, that consistently delivered high quality care. Staff and the management team were passionate and motivated about their roles and understood their responsibilities. They actively engaged and included people, their relatives and professionals in the ongoing delivery of their care and support. This resulted in positive outcomes for people.

There were policies and systems in place to support the safe administration of medicines. Where people required support with their dietary needs and health, this was done safely and effectively. Infection control processes protected people from the risks of cross infection.

Staff understood their responsibilities to report any concerns of abuse or harm. Risks to people were assessed and there were plans in place to support staff to manage risks.

There continued to be enough staff safely recruited, trained and supported appropriately in their roles to care and meet people's needs.

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 empowered people to make informed decisions and enabled them to maintain control and achieve their goals and independence.

People's rights to privacy, dignity and independence were promoted and respected.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion.

Since our last inspection, the service has continued to improve. Effective management and clear leadership had led to a visibly person-centred culture that was embedded throughout the service. This consistently delivered high quality care and support achieving positive outcomes for people.

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 2 June 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.