Francis House

Updated 31 March 2022

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 Care Act 2014.

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 completed by one Inspector.

Service and service type

Francis House 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

We visited the home on 03 and 10 February 2022

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We communicated with seven people who used the service about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy manager, support workers and the providers representative.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including health and safety records and some policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives, and two health care professionals.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found and reviewed quality monitoring records and survey feedback records.

Updated 31 March 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Francis House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to nine people with a learning disability and autistic people. At the time of the inspection, eight people were living at the home, one person was in hospital.

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

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

Francis House does not fully meet the current guidance on small, ordinary homes forming part of a local community. However, we found Francis House was based very close to local amenities. People had a good relationship with their local community and regularly accessed local facilities. Plans were underway to forward plan for changes in people’s mobility. There was a stairlift in place and the provider was in the process of exploring the potential to install a passenger lift.

People told us they felt safe. Staff knew how to manage any risks and report any concerns. There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people's needs. Medicines were managed in a safe way.

Right Care

People were supported by a caring and kind staff. One person told us, “I like my keyworker and I can talk to them about anything.” Staff knew people very well and knew their likes and dislikes. People were supported and encouraged to become more independent, where possible. One person told us, “I like to help with the cooking.” Another person told us, “I make my bed and clean my bedroom.” People were supported to do things they enjoyed doing. One person told us about volunteer work they enjoyed doing in their local community.

Right Culture

Staff told us they received the support they needed to carry out their role. People told us the registered manager was helpful and caring. A relative told us, “They [Registered manager and staff] are marvellous, [person’s name] is doing more now than they have ever done. The staff are so good and know how to support [name] and they are more confident and more independent since moving to Francis House.”

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

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

We also inspected because Lisieux Trust Limited had applied to change the name of their legal entity and register as a company from that of a registered charity. This means they are registered now as a new service and we needed to inspect and rate the service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the

service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

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.