Friars Mead

Updated 13 February 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

One inspector completed this inspection.

Service and service type

Friars Mead is a care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package, under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with Care Quality Commission. The registered manager, along with the provider, are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We also sought feedback from professionals who have experience of this service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

A provider information (PIR) form had been completed. 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.

During the inspection

We sought feedback from three people who used the service. We spoke to three visiting relatives. We spoke to the registered manager, two team leaders and two care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care plans. We reviewed recruitment records staff training and staff supervision records. We looked at quality monitoring and safety audits.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and other quality assurance records.

Updated 13 February 2020

About the service

Friars Mead is a residential care home providing care and support for up to 27 people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection 18 people were accommodated at the home.

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

At our previous inspection in October 2018 we found that improvements were required in all but one of the key questions (Caring). At this inspection we found that while some improvements had been made further improvements were required around the overall management of the service. People and relatives told us they were happy with the service and gave positive feedback. Additional governance systems had been introduced to help improve the quality of care and support provided, and this had improved peoples experiences.

People felt safe and well cared for by staff. Staff knew how to identify and report potential abuse. Individual risks were assessed, and measures put in place to help reduce or mitigate the risks, and this helped to keep them safe. People received their medicines regularly, they were stored securely and appropriate records kept. Staff had been trained in infection control procedures and followed guidance to help reduce the risk and spread of infection.

Staff were supported through induction, training and supervision and mostly felt well supported. Where people required assistance with eating and drinking staff supported them. People were supported to access health care professionals. People were asked to consent to care and had signed their care plans. Staff understood about giving people choices and supporting them to make their own decisions.

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.

People told us they felt the staff were kind and caring. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained and promoted, and staff respected peoples confidentiality.

People's needs were assessed before they came to live at Friars Mead to help ensure that the service could meet their needs. Care plans were further developed over time when new information came to light. Care plans contained sufficient information for staff to support people according to their needs. Activities required a more consistent approach as there was not very much to 'engage' people and at the time of the inspection they were trying to recruit new activities staff. There was a complaints process in place and compliments were also recorded. People and their relatives said they would be confident to speak to a manager or raise concerns should the need arise.

The registered manager had developed and implemented quality assurance systems since the last inspection which meant they had a better oversight of the quality and safety of the service. However, further improvements were required to demonstrate consistency and sustainability. People, and their relatives were positive about the overall management of the service. People were asked for their opinions and feedback.

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 Requires Improvement (published 09 January 2019).

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 re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.