Firs Court

Updated 1 September 2022

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Firs Court is a 'care home' and provides a supported living service to people with tenancy agreements, living in their own flats. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided in the care home, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Firs Court supported living provides support and personal care to people living in their own homes on the same site, so that they can live as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support. Not everyone who lives in supported living receives a regulated activity.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The manager had submitted an application to become registered. This means that once registered they and the provider will be legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. 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 checked notifications made to us by the provider, safeguarding alerts raised regarding people living at the home and information we held on our database about the service and provider. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke in person with the manager and deputy manager. We spoke with six people using the service, eight relatives or advocates, and six staff, to get their experience and views about the care provided. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care plans and risk records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. We checked a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including staff rotas, training, and service level audits. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We requested additional evidence to be sent to us after our inspection. This included staffing and training information, and provider quality assurance audits. We received the information which was used as part of our inspection.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI)/ spent time observing people. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We contacted two healthcare professionals who had frequent contact with the service for their views on the care and support provided.

Updated 1 September 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Firs Court is a ‘care home’ that provides care and support for up to nine people. In addition, there is a supported living service for six people and four adjacent houses providing independent living. All the people who live at Firs Court have a learning or physical disability. There were six people living in the care home, and six people in supported living. The service is in Chessington, south west London.

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

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

People were provided with a service that was safe for them to use and for staff to work in. Service quality was reviewed, and changes made to improve people’s care and support when required. This was in a way that best suited people. There were well-established working partnerships that promoted people’s participation and reduced their social isolation. They had choices, followed their interests and hobbies and did not suffer from social isolation. People and their relatives received information in a forthcoming and timely way that enabled them to make decisions.

Right Care

People received responsive, person centred care and were supported with their needs that were regularly reviewed and recorded in their care and support plans. There were enough suitably trained, recruited and supervised staff who supported people to live in a safe way and enjoy their lives. Any risks to people and staff were assessed and monitored. Staff understood people’s health needs and provided them with access to community-based health care professionals, as well as supporting them appropriately. People were protected by staff from nutrition and hydration risks and they were supported to choose healthy and balanced diets that also met their likes, dislikes and preferences. The premises were adapted to people’s needs. Transition between services was based on people’s needs and best interests. Complaints, concerns, accidents, incidents and safeguarding issues were reported, investigated and recorded. Trained staff safely administered medicines to people.

Right culture

The service had a warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere with people enjoying the way staff gave them care and support. The staff we observed were caring and compassionate. Many positive interactions took place between people, staff and eachother. Staff observed people’s privacy, dignity and confidentiality. People had access to advocates and were encouraged and supported to be independent. The management was transparent with an honest, open and positive culture. The provider’s vision and values were clearly defined, and staff understood and followed them. Staff were aware of their responsibilities, accountability and were prepared to take responsibility and report any concerns they may have. People did not experience discrimination against them, and their equality and diversity needs were met.

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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 14 March 2022 and this is the first inspection.

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.

The overall rating for the service is good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Firs Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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