Archived: The Firs

Updated 31 October 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 is 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 3 October 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location was a small care home for adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure they would be in and the registered manager would be available.

The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector. Before the inspection we gathered information about the service including previous reports, and a provider information return where the provider sends us information on what the service does well and how it could be improved. We also looked at notifications sent to us by the service detailing any important events and feedback from partner agencies and the local authority.

The people using the service were not always able to communicate verbally because of their complex needs so we observed interactions in the communal space using a SOFI (an observational tool helpful in situations where people may not be able to speak with us). We spoke with two relatives, four care staff, and two health and social care professionals. We looked at the building and garden including one person’s living area.

We looked at care records for all four people including health and communication support plans and risk assessments, and their Medicine Administration Records (MAR). We were shown the electronic recording system which held care notes and the online system which held staff and training details.

We interviewed the registered manager and reviewed documents relating to health and safety and fire records and accidents and incidents.

Updated 31 October 2018

The Firs is a residential care home for four people with learning disabilities. Some of the people living in the home also have support needs around physical disabilities and autism. The home has two floors with four separate flats for each person and communal gardens, dining and lounge areas, kitchen and a sensory room.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People were safe, care staff had a good understanding of the risks people faced at home and out in the community and knew how to report suspected abuse. Medicines were managed safely and the premises were adapted to meet the complex needs of people.

Care staff all fed back they were happy that the training provided gave them the skills they needed to effectively meet people’s needs. The registered manager was developing a process of recording how people were supported to meet key outcomes and goals. People were supported to access healthcare services appropriately and in a timely manner, and the food provided ensured people maintained a healthy balanced diet whilst still having their dietary preferences met.

Care staff were kind and caring in their interactions with people and spoke with affection about them. People were given choices around what activities they took part in and food they ate. Appropriate communication methods were used for conversations with people where required, such as objects of reference, single words or short sentences, and pictures and symbols. Where people had families, they were involved in creating support plans.

Peoples needs were responded to promptly. Care staff knew people very well and could describe people’s preferences for their care in detail. We saw preferences being met during the inspection that were described in people’s support plans. There was a complaints policy but no complaints had been made in the last 12 months.

Care staff said they felt supported by the registered manager who had made several improvements to the home and had further plans for developing staff and improving the facilities for people.

At this inspection The Firs met all relevant fundamental standards.

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

Further information is in the detailed findings below.