• Care Home
  • Care home

Falstone Manor

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Cliffe Park, Whitburn Road, Roker, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR6 9NQ (0191) 549 6699

Provided and run by:
HC-One Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 13 May 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check on specific concerns we had about staffing levels, activities and the overall management of the home. We will assess all of the key questions at the next comprehensive inspection of the service.

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 undertaken by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Falstone Manor 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. The registered manager had recently moved to a regional role but was still overseeing the home from a regional perspective. The manager in situ was overseeing the day to day running of the home and planned to submit an application to become the registered manager.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period of notice on the morning of the inspection to ascertain the current status of the home in relation to any COVID-19 infections and to ensure the inspection could go ahead safely.

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 and professionals who work with the service. We also contacted Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

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.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight people and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the manager, the wellbeing co-ordinator and a care assistant during the inspection. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and risk assessments. We looked at staff rotas and records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at policies, quality assurance records, staff rotas and risk assessments.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 13 May 2021

About the service

Falstone Manor is registered to provide accommodation for up to 51 people with residential and nursing care needs. 48 people were using the service at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

At the previous inspection, medicine records were not always up to date and audits had not always identified or actioned issues in a timely manner. At this inspection, we found these issues had been addressed.

People and family members told us the service was safe. Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe administration and storage of medicines. Risks were well managed and checks were carried out to ensure people lived in a safe and clean environment.

Although we received mixed responses regarding staffing levels at the home, our observations and evidence viewed did not raise any concerns. A dependency tool was used to calculate staffing levels and regular analysis was carried out into call bell response times.

The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure and carried out relevant vetting checks when they employed staff. Staff were suitably trained and received regular supervisions and appraisals.

People’s needs were assessed before they started using the service. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. They helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.

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.

The provider had a complaints procedure and people were aware of how to make a complaint. An effective quality assurance process was in place. People, family members and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 20 December 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.