Fairthorn

Updated 4 January 2024

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 completed by 1 inspector and a regulatory co-ordinator.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is bought or rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

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

We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 5 December 2023 and ended on 12 December 2023. We visited the service on 5 December 2023.

What we did before 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 spoke with 5 people and 3 relatives by telephone about their experience of the support provided. We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager and a visiting professional at the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people's care and medicine records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and training. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 4 January 2024

About the service

Fairthorn is a specialist 'extra care' housing scheme. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to 8 people living at the scheme.

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 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. Staff focused on people's strengths and supported people to achieve their goals.

People were supported safely with medicines. Infection prevention and control practices reflected current guidance. Risk assessments were in place and provided staff guidance on how to manage these risks. It was very evident staff had ensured they fully understood the needs of people.

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to people's individual needs. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs, and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. The service had established good links in the local community and had worked in partnership with key organisations.

Right culture

People were empowered because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management team and staff. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs. Staff placed people's wishes, needs, and rights at the heart of everything they did.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 27 December 2017).

Why we inspected

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

Follow up

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