We carried out a review of the data available to us about Fennell Court 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 Fennell Court, you can give feedback on this service.
The inspection of Fennell Court took place on 23 May 2018 and was unannounced. Fennell Court is a purpose built care home for up to 8 people living with autism or with a learning disability and behaviour that may challenge others. Each person has an individual apartment with their own kitchen, lounge, bedroom and bathroom and access to a communal lounge, kitchen and garden area. There were seven people using the service.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
People told us they felt safe. Risk assessments were individual to people’s needs and minimised risk whilst promoting people’s independence. Robust emergency plans were in place in the event of a fire or the need to evacuate the building.
Detailed individual behaviour support plans gave staff the direction they needed to provide safe care. Incidents and accidents were analysed to prevent future risks.
Staff had a good understanding of how to safeguard adults from abuse and sufficient staff were on duty to provide a good level of interaction.
Safe recruitment and selection processes were in place, although some records were not up to date.
A system was in place to ensure medicines were managed in a safe way for people. The service was adapted to meet people’s individual needs, with specialist furniture and fittings.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. Not all mental capacity assessments had been recorded prior to best interest paperwork being completed. The registered manager sent us evidence this was being rectified following our inspection. We made a recommendation about this.
Staff told us they felt supported and records showed they had received role specific training and regular supervision and appraisal to fulfil their role effectively. Not all new staff induction was evidenced due to a large number of new staff, however the staff we spoke with told us they had received an induction. The registered manager sent us evidence of this following our inspection.
People’s individual nutritional needs were met and people were supported to access a range of health professionals to maintain their health and well-being.
The service worked in partnership with community professionals and used good practice guidance to ensure staff had the information they needed to provide good quality care.
Staff were caring and supported people in a way that maintained their dignity and privacy. Observation of the staff and the management team showed they knew people well and could anticipate their needs. People were supported to be as independent as possible throughout their daily lives.
Individual needs were assessed and met through the development of detailed personalised care plans which considered people’s equality and diversity needs and preferences. People had good access to social and leisure activities.
Systems were in place to ensure complaints were encouraged, explored and responded to.
The management team promoted an open and inclusive culture.
The registered provider had an effective system of governance in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service, although some issues with recording mental capacity assessments had not been picked up and addressed.
People who used the service and their relatives were asked for their views about the service and these were acted on.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
The service provides accommodation and personal care for eight adults who are living with a learning disability, issues with mental health and autism. Each person has their own flat within the home with kitchenette, bathroom, and bedroom and lounge area. There were seven people living at the home at the time of our inspection.
There was a manager in place who had been registered since November 2015. 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 were safe living at the service. They received support from staff who had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults and had advanced training in how to support people whose behaviour might challenge others.
Staff told us they received regular supervision and we saw evidence staff received regular training and appraisal to ensure they continued to develop in their roles. The service followed strict recruitment procedures to ensure they employed people with the right values and behaviours to support the people living at this service.
The atmosphere in the home was warm, friendly and we observed staff to be caring and supportive to the people living at Fennell Court. The staff knew the people they were supporting well and what they liked and disliked which ensured people’s needs were met in a way which offered the person choice in how they lived their lives.
Care records were personalised, up to date and reflected people’s care and support needs. The care plans included information about peoples’ likes, interests and how best to support the person.
We observed people engaged in activities of their choice throughout the day which included going out into the local community. This included staff supporting people on a one to one basis to ensure they were safe when undertaking activities.
Both the registered manager and the deputy manager provided effective leadership to the service and held regular meetings with staff and people using the service to ensure people were involved in the running of the home. Relatives and staff told us they felt the service was well led.
We saw evidence of regular environmental and quality audits to assess and monitor the service provided to people and any gaps in the provision were identified and acted upon to ensure the quality of the service was improved.