Archived: Ferndale Crescent

People’s experience of using this service:

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The service was registered before CQC's 'Registering the right support" policy was published. However, the registered manager demonstrated they promoted the principles of this guidance. People were treated as individuals, encouraged to lead active lifestyles and were part of their local community.

People received personalised care, which met their needs. Guidance was in place to support people consistently and in the way, they wanted. Care plans were informative. People had access to other health care professionals. People were supported to pursue their interests and hobbies, and social activities were offered

Staff knew people well. They were caring in their approach. People told us they liked the staff that supported them and were at ease with the staff that were on duty. People's relatives spoke positively about the service and the support that was in place.

Risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing were assessed. Support plans were put in place to ensure these were reduced as much as possible. People were protected from potential abuse by staff who had received training and were confident in raising concerns.

There was a thorough recruitment process in place that checked potential staff were safe to work

with people living at Ferndale Crescent. People were involved in the recruitment of staff. Staff were provided with the training, supervision and support they needed to care for people.

The service was well led. There was a positive culture at the service where staff and people felt listened to and supported. There were suitable quality assurance systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided.

Rating at last inspection: Rating at last inspection: Good (report published June 2017)

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. We found the service continues to meet the characteristics of good with improvements made to how the service supported people with meaningful activities.

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

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

This focused inspection took place on 23 May 2017 and was unannounced.

Ferndale Crescent is a residential home which provides support to people who have learning disabilities. The service is registered with the Commission to provide personal care for up to eight people and at the time of our inspection there were six people using the service.

People told us the home was well run. The registered manager had taken action to address the concerns we identified at our last inspection. They were aware of their responsibilities to the Commission and they were knowledgeable of the type of events they were required to notify us of. Staff told us the registered manager and deputy mangers were supportive and led the staff team well. Staff had a clear understanding of the provider’s philosophy and how to meet people’s specific needs. People had the opportunity to influence and develop the service they received. The registered provider and registered manager made checks to ensure the standard of care was maintained and improved upon when possible.

Ferndale Crescent is a residential home which provides support to people who have learning disabilities. The service is registered with the Commission to provide personal care for up to eight people and at the time of our inspection there were six people using the service.

Since our last inspection a new manager had been registered. They were not available on the first day of our inspection visit. 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.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe. Some people we met found verbal communication difficult. We observed people looking relaxed and showing happiness with their facial expressions and body language. Staff knew how to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff knew how to keep people safe and reduce risks but this information was not always reflected in people’s care records. There was enough staff to support people in a timely manner. The registered manager had access to a resource of agency and bank staff when necessary to ensure people were supported in accordance with their care needs. We saw that the registered manager and staff had a clear understanding of people’s needs.

People received their medicines safely and staff had access to thorough guidance about supporting people to take their medicines.

Staff were appropriately trained and skilled to provide care and support to people. Senior staff were always available for them to seek advice and guidance. The registered manager and staff we spoke with understood the principles of protecting the legal and civil rights of people. Staff were observed seeking people's consent before providing any care and support.

People's changing health and wellbeing needs were responded to and people had regular access to health care professionals to maintain their health. People were given a choice of foods and staff knew what people liked to eat. Meals were prepared according to people’s specific dietary needs.

People and staff enjoyed caring and positive interactions with one another. We saw that people were treated as individuals and they visibly looked at home. People were supported to maintain relationships with people that were important to them.

Staff recognised the individuality of each person, and had planned and delivered support that reflected their individual needs and preferences. Staff were in the process of introducing a new care planning format to ensure that people’s care plans reflected what was important to them, which included the way they received their care and expressed their needs. Staff spoke affectionately about the people they supported. We saw people had access to activities and interests that they enjoyed.

People were aware of the provider’s complaints process but felt they could talk with staff and that their concerns would be addressed. People were encouraged to express their views about the service and felt involved in directing how care was provided. Staff felt involved in developing the service through staff meetings and supervisions with the registered manager.

The registered manager was aware of her responsibilities and had the skills and experiences required to enable her to effectively lead this service. The registered manager had used feedback from the last inspection to make improvements. Quality assurance audits were in place to monitor the quality and safety of the home, however, some of these audits had not identified some record keeping issues we found.

The design and layout of the premises were suitable for people who used it. The home was warm and clean and the communal rooms were large with sufficient room for people's wheel chairs to move around. People could access the front and rear gardens. We found that there were good systems in place for staff to carry out regular health and safety checks around the premises including the fire safety equipment and installations. The provider had contracts in place to regularly test, inspect and service installations such as the central heating systems, the fire detection system and lifting equipment. There was a programme of planned maintenance and refurbishment.

Most people who used the service at the time of our inspection required specialist equipment. We found that people had the equipment they needed and it was kept clean and regularly inspected and serviced.

We found the service being delivered to people was consistent with what the provider's statement of purpose offered.