Fieldhead Park

Fieldhead Park Care Home is registered to provide personal and nursing care and accommodation for 54 older people. The home has two units; one unit provides personal care and accommodation for older people, the second unit provides care for people who have been assessed as needing nursing care. Within this unit six beds were allocated for use by the intermediate care team; this is a service which aims to prevent admission to hospital or to provide a period of rehabilitation following a hospital stay.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe. Care plans contained a range of risk assessments and included details of how moving and handling equipment should be fitted and used. There was a system in place to ensure the premises and equipment were suitably maintained. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans were in place and regularly updated however, plans did not record evacuation routes if people were situated in areas other than their bedroom.

There were safe recruitment procedures in place and we observed staff met people’s needs in a timely manner. There had been recent increases to the ancillary staffing hours to meet people’s changing needs and demands on the service.

People’s medicines were kept, mainly in locked units in their bedrooms. We saw staff administered people’s medicines safely although the management and recording of people’s creams needed to be improved to ensure an accurate record was retained.

New staff were supported in their role and existing staff received on-going training and management supervision.

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 supported this practice.

People spoke positively about the meals provided at Fieldhead Park. People were provided with a choice of meals, hot and cold drinks. Staff assessed people’s nutritional risk regularly and care plans reflected people’s individual needs in regard to eating and drinking. When required, staff kept a record of the food and fluid people consumed.

Everyone we spoke with told us the staff were caring and kind. Staff knew people well and were pro-active in ensuring they respected people’s privacy and dignity. People were offered choices in regard to their daily activities and were enabled to retain their independence. The registered manager had begun to involve people and their families in the care planning process.

There was a range of activities for people to participate in and feedback regarding this was positive. Activities included; trips out in the local community, games, quizzes and exercise classes.

At the time of the inspection a new care planning system was being introduced. The care plans we reviewed were person centred and recorded an adequate level of detail to enable people to receive care and support which met their needs.

Where a complaint had been received, we saw the registered manager had investigated the issues raised and responded to the complainant with their findings.

People and their relatives spoke positively about the day to day management of the home.

There was a system of governance in place to monitor the quality of the service people received, these included, internal audits, the submission of a monthly manager report to senior managers and audits of the home by senior managers. However, we have made a recommendation about further improvements to the governance structure. Regular staff meetings were held and feedback was gained by way of surveys from staff and relatives.

'I am quite happy here; the staff are good, kind and patient.'

'There is a choice of food and they are very obliging the cook told me just to let them know what I would like.'

'The staff are lovely and can't do enough for you. They have a good attitude and good hearts.'

'There are activities on offer if you want to join in. Today people have gone on a barge trip, I was offered but didn't want to go.'

'The staff are very nice and follow any instructions that I leave for them to follow. '

We found that people had been involved in developing their care plans and staff were aware of what care and support they needed to provide. The medication system was being managed properly and people were getting their medication at the right times.

There were enough staff on duty to meet people's needs who had received the necessary training and who were being supported by the manager.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of service that people were receiving.

'Most of the staff are very good.'

'The food is lovely and there is a choice.'

The home is kept clean and tidy and I like my bedroom.'

'There are some activities organised for us like dominos and bingo. We are going on a barge trip tomorrow.'

'If I ask for something I usually get it.'

'They are short of staff sometimes and then I have to wait longer than I would like for assistance.'

'We have a handover meeting in the morning, which I find very helpful. We are told if anyone is going home and who is coming in so we can get the rooms ready.'

'I enjoy working here, but it is hard when staff don't turn up for their shift.'

We also spoke with 3 patients in the Intermediate Care Unit who told us

'The staff are lovely and would do anything for you'

'The staff have looked after me but I expected more attention from the physical therapy people'

'The staff are beautiful and look after me well'