Ferndown Manor

Updated 8 March 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector and 1 specialist nurse advisor.

Service and service type

Ferndown Manor 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. Ferndown Manor is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

During the inspection

We spoke with 8 people who used the service and 7 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 19 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care staff and maintenance staff. We also spoke to 5 health and social care professional who had experience of the service.

We observed care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 8 March 2023

About the service

Ferndown Manor is registered to provide nursing and personal care for up to 75 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom are living with a dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 49 living at the home. Ferndown Manor is purpose built and accommodates people according to their needs across three separate floors.

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

Significant and sustained improvement had been made at Ferndown Manor since our last inspection. Developments to governance structures, risk management and staffing levels had improved safety within the home.

People and their families told us Ferndown Manor was safe and they felt well cared for. One relative said, “The ambiance at Ferndown Manor is one of a caring family. Apart from the obvious security in place, the carers ensure that my [relative] eats, is comfortable and that I am advised of any issues straight away.”

People had been assessed for potential risks to their health, safety and well-being. Robust systems were in place to ensure assessments were regularly reviewed to ensure people were consistently protected from risks of harm. One person told us, “Yes I feel very safe, I couldn’t ask for more.”

Ferndown Manor had recruited staff safely into the service ensuring staff were of good character. There were enough staff to meet people’s care needs. One person said, “I know the staff well, they know what they are doing and are all nice, I don’t have any problems at all.”

The home was clean and tidy. Systems were in place to protect people from the spread of avoidable infections. Medicines were administered by trained staff and managed safely.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service was well-led. Staff told us they were proud to work at Ferndown Manor and felt supported by the management team. Comments included: “I love my job and feel proud knowing I’m making a difference in someone’s life”, ”This is the only home I would feel happy sending my own family members too, or even myself when the time comes” and, “I work in a positive working environment which enables all residents to have fulfilling enriched lives.”

Governance systems to manage quality, risks and regulatory requirements were robust and effective. This meant any areas of improvement had been easily identified, and actions taken to drive improvements to consistently deliver good quality of care.

People, relatives and staff told us they found the registered manager and deputy manager’s approachable. They felt listened to and knew if they did raise concerns they would be acted upon.

The registered manager and deputy manager were proud of Ferndown Manor, proud of the staff and proud to deliver person centred care to people living in the home. Leading by example , they told us how they were supporting one person to achieve their wish to try plane wing walking. We were shown a system of flower pictures which, when placed outside people’s rooms communicated to staff when personal care was being delivered, if a person preferred female carers only and when a person needed assistance with their dentures. It was this type of dignified approach that contributed to a positive, open and inclusive culture of the service.

Health and social care professionals told us the home worked in partnership with them to deliver consistent, quality care. One healthcare professional said, “I have been to a few care homes in the area and I can honestly say that this one is one of the better ones.”

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 22 July 2021).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.