Archived: Fairways Residential Care Home

Updated 8 September 2018

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 was 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.

This inspection took place on 28 and 29 July 2018 and was unannounced. One adult social care inspector, one specialist advisor and one expert by experience carried out this inspection. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using services or caring for a person who uses services. In this case the expert by experience had experience in caring for a person living with dementia. Prior to the inspection, we reviewed the information we had about the home, including notifications of events the service is required by law to send us.

During the inspection we spoke with 22 people who lived in the home and we conducted a SOFI (Short Observational Framework for Inspection). SOFI is a specific way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who are unable to talk with us.

We spoke with the operations director, seven members of staff and eight visiting friends and relatives. We also received feedback from two external healthcare professionals who have dealings with Fairways. We looked at the ways in which medicines were recorded, stored and administered to people. We also looked at the way meals were prepared and served and reviewed in detail the care provided to six people, looking at their care files and other records. We reviewed the recruitment files for three staff members and other records relating to the operation of the service, such as risk assessments, complaints, accidents and incidents, policies and procedures.

Updated 8 September 2018

This comprehensive inspection took place on 28 and 29 July 2018 and was unannounced. We last inspected this service in February 2017 where it was rated ‘Requires Improvement’ overall and ‘Requires Improvement’ in the Safe, Effective and Well-led key questions. Following the previous inspection in February 2017 we identified two breaches of regulation, corresponding to regulation 11, need for consent, and regulation 9, person centred care. During this inspection in July 2018 we found that sufficient action had been taken to improve on these areas and the service was no longer in breach.

Fairways Residential Care Home (referred to in this report as Fairways) is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or 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. Fairways accommodates up to 70 people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 45 people living in the home.

The service had a registered manager. 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 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run. A new manager was going to be starting at the home the week following our inspection and the operations manager was in charge of day to day management on the days of our inspection.

Following our previous inspection in February 2017 Fairways had employed a new operations director and had made a number of improvements. Therefore, the rating at Fairways improved to ‘Good’ in all areas and ‘Good’ overall.

People and relatives praised the staff and management of Fairways. People were held in high regard, had a good quality of life, had freedom to make choices and were supported to be independent. Staff treated people with respect and kindness and we received comments during our inspection which included; “The carers are really nice people, it must be a tough job, but they are very caring, very helpful”, “This is the third home my wife has been in, and the best of them all” and “(Name of relative) and I are very impressed with the patience and professionalism of all the staff. Dad is made to feel special and receives personal attention.”

People who lived in Fairways were protected from risks relating to their health, mobility, medicines, nutrition and possible abuse. Staff had assessed individual risks to people and had taken action to seek guidance and minimise identified risks. Staff knew how to recognise possible signs of abuse. Where accidents and incidents had taken place, these had been reviewed and action had been taken to reduce the risks of reoccurrence. Staff supported people to take their medicines safely and staffs’ knowledge relating to the administration of medicines were regularly checked. Staff told us they felt comfortable raising concerns.

Action had been taken to ensure staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the principles of the Act and how to apply these. We found people were involved in all aspects of their care and their consent had been sought prior to any care being delivered. Where people had been unable to make a particular decision at a particular time, their capacity had been assessed and best interests decisions had taken place and been recorded. Where people were being deprived of their liberty for their own safety the registered manager had made Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) applications to the local authority.

Recruitment procedures were in place to help ensure only people of good character were employed by the home. Staff underwent Disclosure and Barring Service (police record) checks before they started work. Staff knew how to recognise possible signs of abuse in order to protect people. Staffing numbers at the home were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Staff had the competencies and information they required in order to meet people’s needs. Staff received sufficient training as well as regular supervision and appraisal.

People, relatives, staff and healthcare professionals were asked for their feedback and suggestions in order to improve the service. People were provided with enough food and fluids to meet their needs. Care was taken to ensure people enjoyed their food and it met their personal preferences.

People had access to activities which met their needs. The home hired activities coordinators who were continuously looking for ways to improve people’s lives through activities and engagement. During our inspection we saw people being encouraged to join in activities and enjoying themselves.

Further information is in the detailed findings below