Ferndale Residential Care Home

Updated 26 October 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check on specific concerns we received anonymously about risk management, people’s choices being respected, night staffing levels and the ability of staff to meet people’s needs.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Ferndale Residential Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care worker, night care workers and care workers. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We attended the staff handover between the night and morning shift. We spoke with a visiting professional who regularly visits the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to staff training were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager and deputy to validate evidence found. We received feedback from a further professional who regularly visit the service.

Updated 26 October 2021

This inspection took place on 2 and 7 August 2018 and was unannounced.

Ferndale Residential Care Home is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. The home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 17 people and there were 15 people living at the home at the time of the inspection. The people living at the home had a range of needs including those who were living with dementia.

Ferndale Residential Care Home is a detached property in Southborne. The home is near local shops, railway station and a church. It is an older residential property which has been extended and adapted to be suitable as a residential care home. There was a passenger lift so people could access the first floor. All bedrooms were single and four had an en-suite toilet. There is a communal lounge and dining room. A conservatory was used by people as a dining area or for activities. People also had access to a garden and at the time of the inspection people were using this to eat outside in the warm weather.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. Since the last last inspection we received information of concerns which were investigated by the local authority safeguarding team and the provider. We looked at how the provider looked into two safeguarding concerns raised in the last 12 months. We also checked specific areas where concerns were raised with us recently which were being investigated by the provider and the local authority safeguarding team. These are referred to in the relevant sections of the report. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People and their relatives said they were satisfied with the standard of care provided. For example, one person told us, “I could not ask for a better place – they are all angels.”

Staff were training in safeguarding people and knew what to do if they were concernd about a person’s welfare or well-being.

Assessments of people’s needs and care plans were recorded on a recently introduced computer system which staff accessed via specialist smartphones. The system gave staff quick acces to care plans and prompted them to deliver the agreed care to people. The premises and equipment were safely maintained. Sufficient numbers of care staff were deployed to meet people’s needs. Checks were made to ensure staff were suitable to work in a care setting and appropriate action was taken where staff performance was a concern. Medicines were safely managed. The home was clean and hygienic with no offensive odours. Incidents or accidents were reviewed and action taken to reduce the likelihood of any reoccurrence.

The staff had a good links with health care professsionals and specialist services regarding the correct procedures to support people. Staff were well trained and supervised. The staff felt supported and valued.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed and people were supported to eat and drink. Health care needs were monitored and referals made to other services to ensure there was a coordinated approach to people’s care. 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 were treated with kindness, dignity and in a way which promoted their rights to a good standard of care. People’s privacy was respected.

People received personalised care which was responsive to their needs. The provider identified and met people’s communication needs. The service provided a good range of activities and was particularly good in supporting people to access the community. This incuded the provision of an annual holiday, which people enjoyed.

The provider had an effective complaints policy. Peolpe told us there concerns were listened to and acted on. The provider had links with hospice services and the local NHS services regarding the provision of end of life care. A health care professional said the staff were skilled in providing end of life care to people.

The provider sought the views of people, their relatives and professionals regarding the quality of the service provided. Staff demonstrated there was a culture of person centred care. checks and audits were also carried out on a regular basis to ensure care was safely provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.