Fleet Hall Care Home

Updated 7 March 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience on the first day and 1 inspector on the second day. 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

Signature at Fleet is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Signature at Fleet is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 8 people and 3 people’s relatives. We also spoke with 15 members of staff including the regional operations director, registered manager, deputy manager, care, activities, maintenance, laundry, cleaning and catering staff.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) on the reminiscence unit. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. These included 4 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 7 March 2023

About the service

Signature at Fleet is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 78 people. The service is provided to older people who may also be living with dementia. The ground and first floor were designated as ‘Assisted living’, whilst the second floor was the ‘Reminiscence’ unit for people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 64 people using the service.

Two providers are dual registered to provide this service and both are responsible for service delivery at the location.

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

Potential risks to people were assessed with them and measures were in place to ensure they were enabled to stay safe, with minimal restrictions on their freedom. People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff had managed a recent outbreak of COVID-19 effectively, in line with their training, the provider's policies and national guidance. There were sufficient, appropriate staff of the required level of skill and experience rostered to meet people's needs. Staff were recruited safely. Incidents were reviewed and any required actions to minimise the risk of repetition were taken, any learning was shared.

People’s needs and choices were assessed and their care and support was planned and delivered in accordance with good practice guidance, to achieve effective outcomes for them. Staff had the required skills, knowledge and experience. People were provided with a range of nutritious food and drinks and any risks were identified and mitigated. Staff worked both across the team and with a variety of external agencies to ensure people’s health care needs were identified and met. The colour of the corridor wall on the reminiscence unit was not dementia friendly. The provider was aware and addressing this, with the planned refurbishment of the service, which was taking place this year.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion. Staff recognised people’s emotional support needs and ensured they were met. People were involved in decisions about their care. People’s privacy, dignity and independence were promoted by staff. People were well supported by staff at the end of their lives.

People received personalised care which reflected their individual needs, preferences and wishes about their care. Staff had a good understanding of each person’s needs and how these were to be met. Staff understood people’s communication needs and ensured these were met. People were able to access a range of opportunities for social stimulation both in the home and in the wider community.

The registered manager created a person centred, inclusive and open culture, they were a good leader. Staff felt motivated by and proud of their work with people. There was a strong governance framework in place to monitor performance. Processes were in place to seek people’s feedback on the service and to drive improvements. Staff used the provider’s governance processes to monitor the quality of the service and to identify and address any areas for improvement. Staff worked openly with professionals and external agencies to ensure people’s care needs were met.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 10 December 2021 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 26 September 2020.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.