Fernbank Lodge

Updated 26 September 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.

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

The inspection team consisted of 1 inspector and 1 Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Fernbank Lodge 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. Fernbank Lodge is a care home without 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 on the first day and announced on the second day.

What we did before the inspection

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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent 2 days on site observing the provision of care. We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 12 family members. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, senior staff, care workers, and a director. We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people’s care plans, 2 staff files, 1 agency staff record, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including health and safety and quality assurance. We requested documentary evidence of management oversight to review remotely following the inspection site visit.

Updated 26 September 2023

About the service

Fernbank Lodge is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care to up to 18 people. The service provides support to people with mental health needs and older people. At the time of our inspection there were 17 people using the service.

Fernbank Lodge is an adapted building over 2 floors with a stair lift, 2 lounges, a dining room, 2 conservatories, a rear garden and front seating area.

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

We found medicines systems and processes were generally robust, although we have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines.

We found that systems regarding staff training, scheduling, and support appeared good, although we have made a recommendation about the staff recruitment record keeping.

There were systems and training in place to keep people safe and reduce the risk of abuse. People living in the home and their relatives agreed Fernbank Lodge was a safe place to live.

Health and safety systems were in place to ensure the safety of the premises was maintained to keep people, visitors, and staff safe.

Infection prevention and control measures were in place to reduce the likelihood of infectious diseases being transmitted within the home. There was personal protective equipment available in various locations in the home for people to use. The provider was following current government guidance with regards to visitors coming to the home.

There was a culture from the provider and the registered manager to learn lessons when things went wrong. Events were reviewed and actions implemented to reduce the likelihood of a repeat incident, where possible.

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.

There was a positive and person-centred approach to the care and support in the service. People living in the home liked their staff and registered manager and any suggestions or concerns were responded to.

The registered manager was clear about her role and how to manage the service and the checks needed to keep quality of care to a good standard. The provider also demonstrated their checks on the service and registered manager, to help provide further oversight.

People living in the home, their relatives, and staff were all consulted regarding improvements to be made in the home and how to improve care.

The registered manager and staff worked well with others to ensure good health outcomes and safety of the people living in the home.

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 good (published 30 November 2017). At our last inspection we made 1 recommendation for the provider to seek and implement best practice guidance in the documentation of quality audits. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on this recommendation and had a system to document and monitor quality audits.

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to risks to people from falls and staffing levels. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

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 the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We found no evidence during this inspection people were at risk of harm from these concerns, as the provider had managed the concerns and put measures in place to ensure people were safe. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has remained good based on the findings of this inspection.

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

Recommendations

We have made 2 recommendations regarding staff records and medicines. These can be found in the safe key question.

Follow up

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