The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Fernleigh Resource Centre

Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, Wirral, Merseyside, CH46 1PQ (0151) 638 5602

Provided and run by:
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

All Inspections

8 November 2012

During a routine inspection

We saw records that demonstrated that staff at the home work closely with Community Psychiatric Nurses to provide appropriate and timely support to people living in the community with mental health problems. One person told us that for him Fernleigh was a lifeline and had prevented him from harming himself on a number of occasions. Information and processes were in place to ensure people staying there or admitted to the home in crisis are safeguarded. We were told by staff that they enjoyed working in the home, we found that staff had not completed all relevant training and had not received regular formal supervision and appraisal. We found that Wirral Council had identified improvements needed to the fabric of the building internally and externally. One person staying at the home spoke of their concerns should the respite service not be available to them. We saw that the provider has processes in place to monitor the quality of the service provided.

6 March 2012

During a routine inspection

During our visit we met four people who were using the service and spoke at length with two people. One person told us that she has a stay at Fernleigh every month and she looks forward to it. She has been coming here for many years. The staff are all very kind. She was sorry to have missed the recent service user committee meeting as she likes to participate. The food is OK but there is not much variety. She feels able to relax when she is here and can talk to the staff about any problems. She always feels safe when she is here and it is nice to have someone about as she lives on her own.

The other person told us that she thinks it is a lovely place and coming to Fernleigh prevents her from having to go into hospital. She likes to help the staff and the people who come to stay here all look after each other. There are 'not many tiffs'. The staff are brilliant and if you have a problem you can go to them. It is 'more kind' here than other services she has used.

Following our visit we contacted a health professional who supports one of the people we met at the service. He told us:

'I consider that Fernleigh fulfils a crucial role in providing respite for my client. She always appreciates the peace and quiet she is able to have when on respite there. The staff there strive to make/ keep a calm environment, which is just what my client needs. I believe the Fernleigh staff work hard to meet individual service users needs, my client has certainly benefitted from a flexibility of thinking from the staff in managing her difficult challenging presentation and needs.'

One person told us that when she has a stay at Fernleigh she looks after her own medicines because she is used to doing this at home.