The Firs Rest Home

Updated 12 December 2020

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.

We received information of concern about infection control and prevention measures at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 18 November 2020 and was unannounced.

Updated 12 December 2020

About the service

The Firs Rest Home is registered to provide personal care for up to 15 older people some of whom may be living with dementia. The property is a large detached family home that has been extended and adapted to provide additional bedrooms and living space. Two of the bedrooms were registered as shared bedrooms. At the time of the inspection there were 15 people in residence.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found People were looked after safely. Staff received safeguarding adults training and knew how to report any safeguarding concerns to the local authority or the Care Quality Commission [CQC]. The management of risks to people’s health and welfare ensured these were mitigated, reducing or eliminating the risk to prevent harm. The number of staff on duty each shift were sufficient and ensured each person’s care and support needs were met. Staffing numbers were reviewed and adjusted as needed.

The service followed safe recruitment procedures to ensure they only employed suitable staff. Pre-employment checks included written references and a Disclosure and Barring Service check. People received their medicines as prescribed. Medicines were well managed and administered by those staff who had been trained and were competent.

People needs were assessed and a care plan written setting out how they wanted to be looked after. Staff received the training they needed to enable them to do their job well. For new staff there was an induction training programme and for all others there was a mandatory refresher training programme. Staff were well supported to do their job and received a regular supervision session with a senior member of staff.

People received any healthcare support they needed with the staff team making any necessary arrangements. They received food and drink that met their specific dietary requirements and were encouraged to have an input in menu planning. Any preferences they had regarding food and drink were accommodated.

People were encouraged to retain as much choice and control of their daily lives and staff supported them in their best interests. The service was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The staff and management team was caring. People were looked after by staff who had worked at The Firs for many years and were kind and caring. People were complimentary about the way they were looked after and the kindness of staff. People were encouraged to make their own decisions about their daily life and the way they were looked after and to be as independent as able. The staff team had good working relationships with each other, with the people they looked after and their relatives.

The service provided to each person was person-centred and responsive to people’s specific needs. People were provided with the opportunity to participate in a range of meaningful social activities. Some were arranged in-house but in addition external entertainers visited the service.

The provider/registered manager and deputy manager provided good leadership and management for the staff team. There was a robust programme of quality assurance measures in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Feedback was sought from people and their relatives and their comments were listened to and acted upon. The service

worked well with health and social care services and kept up to date with best practice.

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 July 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based upon the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.