We carried out a review of the data available to us about Ferrol Lodge 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 Ferrol Lodge, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice
A bespoke covid-secure ‘visitors pod’ had been constructed within the grounds of the home. The pod could only be accessed by visitors externally and they were not required to enter the care home. A commercially available online appointments ‘App’ had been utilised which enabled relatives to directly book an appointment for the visiting pod. By using an online ‘App’ this also reduced the burden on staff. The pod and booking system proved extremely popular and supported the wellbeing of residents, their families, and staff.
To reduced the time the registered manager spent inputting identification bar codes into the Covid-19 testing system, a bar code scanner had been purchased. The registered manager reported this had reduced the time spent inputting data by around three minutes per test.
As an additional layer of assurance, staff arrived and left work in their own clothes, changing in and out of their uniform within the workplace. Correct guidance was followed for laundering of uniforms.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Ferrol Lodge 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.
Ferrol Lodge provides care and accommodation for up to 23 older people in 19 single and two double bedrooms. Bedrooms are arranged over two floors and these can be accessed by stairways or a passenger lift. Communal space is provided in the form of a lounge, dining room and a spacious conservatory. At the time of our inspection there were 22 people living at the home. One double room was used by a married couple and the other double room was currently used by only one person.
The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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.
All the people we spoke with were very complimentary about the care staff at Ferrol Lodge. They were described in glowing terms as being extremely kind and helpful. Relatives we spoke with were also very ositive of the staff team supporting their loved ones, commenting how friendly and caring the staff were. Staff had gone above and beyond their role when they supported one person to attend a staff member’s wedding.
Feedback we received from the local authority social services and visiting health professionals was also very positive. We were told how the staff were knowledgeable about people’s support needs and made the home welcoming to visitors. A report by Trafford Healthwatch commented “The staff members have great working relations with each other and maintain excellent relations with residents and their relatives. They have great communication schemes that help to maintain these links.”
People’s life history, likes and dislikes were identified so staff were able to form meaningful relationships with people. A comprehensive one page profile was available in each person’s bedroom, detailing people’s preferences and things that were important to them. People were supported to maintain their faith, with three different priests or vicars visiting the home.
We saw very positive interactions between staff and people throughout our inspection. Staff took time to listen to people and encouraged them to maintain their independence by supporting and praising them to do tasks for themselves. Throughout the inspection the staff showed how they respected people’s privacy and dignity.
People said that they felt safe living at Ferrol Lodge. Care plans identified people’s health and support needs. Potential risks were identified and risk assessments provided guidance for staff in order to mitigate these risks. People and their relatives, where appropriate, were involved in agreeing their care plans.
People were encouraged to express their views and make choices about their care and support. Regular residents meetings were held to enable people to comment on their care and support. Ideas from the meetings had been acted upon by the home, for example a clock displaying the day, date and time had been bought for the lounge.
People, relatives and visiting professionals were asked for their feedback on the service through an annual survey. We saw the surveys returned were overwhelmingly positive about Ferrol Lodge and the staff team.
People received their medicines as prescribed. The temperature of the medicines room was recorded as consistently being 24 or 25 degrees centigrade. Medicines should be stored at below 25 degrees. The registered manager said they would look at installing an extractor unit to reduce the temperature in the medicines room.
People were supported to maintain their health and nutritional intake. Records were kept were appropriate of what people had consumed. We saw referrals to relevant health professionals were made, for example to the Speech and Language Team (SALT), district nurses and GP’s.
We saw that sufficient staff were on duty; however at times they were busy and were not able to pop into the lounge to check everyone was okay. There was a stable staff team and the service did not use agency staff. The staff team covered any shifts that were required. This meant people were supported by regular staff who knew them well.
A robust system for safely recruiting suitable staff was in place. Staff completed a thorough induction workbook when they started working at the service. Training was provided that was appropriate to the staff roles.
Staff said they enjoyed working at the service and felt well supported by the deputy and registered managers. Staff had regular supervisions and six monthly team meetings were held. All staff said that the registered manager was approachable.
We found the service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005). An assessment of people’s capacity was completed as part of the pre-admission assessment. This was reviewed each month. Where people did not have capacity to consent to their care and support applications had been made for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to the local authority.
People’s wishes for their care at the end of their lives and after their death were recorded. Wherever possible people were supported at the home, with assistance from district nurses and other medical professionals at the end of their lives.
The staff on duty organised different activities for people to participate in. External entertainers were also booked and an exercise to music session was held each week. We observed the weekly visit by a mother and toddler group to the home. These visits were very well received by the people living at Ferrol Lodge. The registered manager had also arranged for two local nurseries to visit Ferrol Lodge within the month after our inspection.
A range of quality audit tools were in place, including health and safety, medicines and a monthly audit by the registered provider. Incidents and accidents were reviewed and actions taken to minimise the risk of a re-occurrence.
The home was warm, clean throughout and free from any malodours. All equipment, for example fire alarms and the lift, had been serviced in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines. We noted that some of the commodes had rips on the arms which made them difficult to fully clean. A programme to replace these and refurbish people’s bedroom furniture was in place but would take many months to complete.