Fernways

Updated 7 July 2025

Date of assessment: 15 July 2025 to 25 July 2025.

Fernways provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is bought or rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

At the time of this assessment, the service was providing personal care to 10 people. The site visit was carried out on 15 July 2025.

This assessment was carried out by one inspector. We looked at 15 quality statements as part of this assessment. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the assessment. This was because we wanted to make sure someone would be available to support us with the assessment. We also spoke with people who used the service, their relatives, and staff to seek their views about the service.

At the time of our assessment there was a registered manager in post. However, they had been absent from the service for longer than three months. The provider had made alternative arrangements to ensure the registered manager position was covered. An acting manager was in post, and they were being supported by the service manager and the registered managers from the provider’s other services.

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 20 January 2023). This assessment was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

The provider was previously in breach of the legal regulation in relation to the management of medicines and good governance. Improvements were found at this assessment and the provider was no longer in breach of these regulations. The provider ensured medicines were managed safely. There was an effective system in place to monitor the quality of the service and identify shortfalls.

This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions Safe and Well-led which cover those breaches.

Updated 7 July 2025

The provider had safeguarding policies and procedures to protect people from possible harm. Risks associated with people's care and support had been assessed. There were sufficient numbers of staff working at the service to meet people's needs. Staff received appropriate training and support to help them in their roles. People received support with their medicines as needed. Staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities for the management of infection.

There were quality assurance and governance systems in place to drive continuous improvement. Staff felt supported by the management team. People and relatives commented positively on the way the service was run. The management team welcomed comments to improve the service. People were supported to maintain good health and access healthcare services. The service had good links with a number of health and social care professionals, and this helped to ensure people's needs were fully met.