The Care Quality Commission
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  • Care home

Archived: The Fold Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

34 Vernon Road, Greenmount, Bury, Lancashire, BL8 4DD (01204) 888501

Provided and run by:
Julie Ruth Smale

All Inspections

03 September 2015

During a routine inspection

This was an unannounced inspection, which took place on the 03 September 2015.

The service provides accommodation and care for three people who do not need nursing care. The provider has no other locations. At the time of the inspection there was one person living in the home. The service was previously inspected on 19 May 2014 and meet all the areas inspected.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We checked medicines management. People were receiving medicines that were prescribed and at a time that suited them as individuals. However clear and accurate records were not always kept of medicines given by care workers. Some medicines were not being given in accordance with the manufactures and prescribers instructions.

We checked how the service followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The MCA governs decision-making on behalf of adults who may not be able to make particular decisions for themselves. The requirements of the MCA were understood in principal by the registered provider/manager. As the service provides care to no more than three people at any time the staff have a high level of understanding of the individuals people’s needs and views. As such we were able to observe that there were arrangements in place to make sure that people gave valid consent to the care and treatment that they received.

The staff and people we spoke with confirmed that there is always an ongoing discussion about what peoples choices, preferences are and how they would wish to receive any care. At this inspection there were no people living in the service that had an assessment that they lacked capacity. The registered provider/manager explained that the service would be unable to fully meet the needs of people who lacked capacity as the service promotes as much independence as possible. The registered provider/manager agreed that this needed to be reflected in the service users guide and statement of purpose which provides information to people moving into the service about the services that can be provided.

The service provided care and support that was designed around the individual’s wishes and routines ensuring that they received person centred care at all times. People were complimentary about the caring nature of staff. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and we were told that care was provided with patience and kindness. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.

Staff were knowledgeable about what actions they would take if abuse was suspected or were unhappy with the care that they saw being provided. They were confident that they would address any concerns if identified.

Safe recruitment procedures were followed and staff said that they undertook an induction programme.

People received food and drink which met their nutritional needs and they could access appropriate health, social and medical support, as soon as it was needed.

The building of the service is a domestic residence in an residential street. This assists in providing a welcoming and homely atmosphere to the home. We looked at the environment and saw that it was maintained safely and clean. People living in the service were able to bring in their own personal items in order to make the service feel as though it was their own home.

15, 19 May 2014

During a routine inspection

We considered all the evidence we gathered under the outcomes we inspected. We used the information to answer the five questions we always ask: Is the service safe? Is the service caring? Is the service effective? Is the service responsive to people's needs? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on speaking with people who used the service, speaking with staff who supported them, observation and looking at records.

Is the service safe?

People who lived at the home who we spoke with told us they felt safe at the home. They said they could approach the owner at any time if they had any worries or concerns and they were confident they would listen and sort the problem out.

The owner had recently attended a local authority safeguarding training event. The staff team were in the process of completing the safeguarding workbooks provided by the local authority.

Is the service effective?

People told us that their individual needs, choices and preferences were acted upon and respected by the staff caring for them. One person commented, 'I am very lucky I found this place. Where I was before did not suit me' and 'It is like a home from home, I could not be anywhere better.'

There were only two people living at the home who had access to care and support from one member of staff who knew them well at all times.

Is the service caring?

People we spoke with told us they were very happy living at the home and were complimentary about the care and support they received from the owner and the staff team who supported them.

Interactions between people and the staff supporting them were seen to be frequent and friendly and the atmosphere was calm and relaxed. The staff member told us they were encouraged to spend time talking with people and that came before anything else that needed to be done such as household tasks.

We saw people's right to privacy and dignity maintained during our visit. For example where a doctor visited and when they were receiving personal care.

Is the service responsive to people's needs?

People told us they maintained contact with their families and friends who were regular visitors to the home. People told us about the busy weekend they had had. They had attended a large birthday party on the Saturday and had met with friends from church for a lunch event on the Sunday.

People told us about action the owner had taken to help maximise their health, for example making sure a person had new hearing aids.

Is the service well-led?

The owner was also the manager of the home and was registered with us.

Where an accident had occurred the owner had reviewed the incident and taken action to ensure the situation did not happen again.

All the people we spoke with during our visit told us that the owner was very supportive and approachable and they were encouraged to speak with her about any concerns or worries they had.

30 April 2013

During a routine inspection

The Fold Care Home is a small home. Two people were living at the home at the time of our visit. We talked to them and they confirmed that they were very happy living at the home. They said that they felt that they were part of an extended family. One person said 'I could not wish to be anywhere better.'

Before our visit to the home we contacted the local safeguarding and commissioning teams. They confirmed that they had no concerns about the service people received at The Fold Care Home.

People told us that they had access to food and drink at all times. They said that the owner was a very good cook. They said that their food was always homemade and that they liked what was provided.

We looked around most parts of the house used by people living there. We saw that the bedrooms and en suite bathrooms were clean and tidy.

People shared the house with the owner. People had their own bedrooms and en suite shower rooms. We saw that the house was very comfortable and homely throughout and in a good state of repair.

People liked their bedrooms. They had their own furniture and belongings with lots of pictures and family photographs on the walls. They had fresh flowers and plants in their rooms as well as their own radio and television.

People told us that they liked the staff. They said that they were friendly and cheerful and that they liked a joke and this was important to them. One person said 'they are full of fun.'

2 October 2012

During a routine inspection

People using the service told us 'I am made to feel at home, it's marvellous' and 'It's lovely, everyone is very kind and I am treated like one of the family, the Royal family!'

People told us that they were well cared for by staff. They said that 'nothing was too much trouble' and 'they have given me a new lease of life.'

People told us that if they had any concerns or worries they would speak to the provider. They were sure that she would listen, take them seriously and do their best to resolve the problem. People said 'this is the best care home in the country and it's given me peace of mind' and 'I feel safe and secure.'

People told us that the provider and the staff team were 'kind' and 'wonderful'. A staff member told us that The Fold was 'like one big family and I can give people more time than I have been able to in other jobs' and 'it's fantastic, it is a pleasure to come to work. I love it.'

People told us that the provider was 'always looking to improve things.' When asked if the provider was approachable and supportive people said 'without a doubt' We contacted the local commissioning team who informed us that they had no concerns about the home.