We carried out a review of the data available to us about Fortis Care Hertfordshire on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Fortis Care Hertfordshire, you can give feedback on this service.
Fortis Care Hertfordshire is a supported living service and a domiciliary care service. The service provides personal care for people living with a learning disability and/or autism in their own flats. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service who received the regulated activity of personal care.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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.
Right Support
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
The registered manager and the provider promoted care and support focused on people’s strengths and this promoted their independence. People were encouraged to take positive risks and take part in activities and pursue their interests.
Right Care
Staff showed kindness and compassion when supporting people. People trusted and approached staff with confidence. Staff supported people how they wanted and helped them stay safe and enjoy their lives.
Staff received training and support to understand each person’s needs and their support had a positive impact on people’s lives. People were actively involved in their care. Key workers were allocated to each person to help ensure people had regular input and were involved in evaluating their progress, goals and achievements.
Right Culture
The registered manager and provider promoted a positive, caring and inclusive culture amongst the staff team. Staff morale was good, staff felt listened to and empowered to support people in a personalised and safe way.
The registered manager and provider used a range of audits and governance systems which were effective to quality assure the service provided and identified where improvements were needed. A service improvement plan had been developed to show what actions had been taken and if these were effective to drive forward improvements in the service.
Staff received training and understood best practice when supporting people with a learning disability and/or autism. People and their representatives were involved in their care and their views and choices were respected. Staff felt valued and were involved in developing the service to improve people’s outcomes.
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 20/06/2019)
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management of the service, safety management, staffing and social interaction. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led sections of this full report.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
Fortis Care is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to younger adults, people living with dementia, people with a learning disability, people with mental health needs, a physical disability and sensory impairments. The service is provided from an office based in Stevenage.
Not everyone using Fortis Care receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection staff were providing care to two people.
People’s experience of using this service:
People felt safe and staff understood the process to follow if they identified that a person may be at risk of harm. Risk assessments were in place to identify possible risks to people`s health and well-being and measures were implemented to mitigate the risks. Staffing levels were appropriate to meet the needs of the people using the service. Medicines were safely managed.
Staff knew the people they supported well. They received regular training updates. People’s care and health needs were identified so staff could meet these. People were supported to maintain good health. Staff worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensured people consented to their care.
People’s privacy and dignity was protected and promoted. People had developed good relationships with staff who had a good understanding of their needs and preferences.
People told us staff were kind and caring and helped them. People`s personal information was kept confidential. People were involved in discussions about their care and felt that communication with staff and the management was good. People were aware of who to speak to if they had any concerns they wish to raise.
People received person centred care that met their needs. Care plans gave details of how people would like their needs met.
People and staff told us the service was well managed. Staff said the service had a family atmosphere and they felt well-supported. The registered managers and staff worked in partnership with other agencies to ensure people got the care and support they needed.
The outcomes for some people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways: promotion of choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as fulfilling and enjoyable a life as they chose to lead.
Rating at last inspection:
This was the first inspection of the service since it became registered on 22 May 2018.
Why we inspected:
This was a planned first inspection of the service.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk