Archived: Fernwood Court Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

People were to be admitted to the setting using a separate entrance located close to a lift. Screens were to provide additional separation and protection between the existing units at the home and the designated setting.

A streamlined care file had been developed to manage people’s needs during their short stay at the setting. This considered people’s symptoms of infection and recorded end of life wishes.

Plans for a wellbeing coordinator were in place to support people at risk of social isolation.

Laundry was to be cleaned by a separate company. This minimised the risk of infection spread between the designated setting and other units within the home.

Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) stations and clinical waste bins were to be distributed throughout the designated setting. This supported staff to use and dispose of PPE safely.

At the time of our inspection there were some areas to be developed before the service could function safely as a designated setting. However, the provider had clear plans in place to address these actions.

On this basis, we were assured that this service would meet good infection prevention and control guidelines as a designated care setting when plans were implemented. However, since our inspection visit the Local Authority has made a decision not to progress Fernwood Court Care Home as a designated setting.

Fernwood Court Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care to 27 people with a mental health diagnosis, dementia, younger adults and people aged 65 and over. The service can support up to 59 people in one adapted building.

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

People felt safe and staff had good knowledge of safeguarding processes. There were enough staff to support people safely. Care plan and risk assessments were up to date and reviewed regularly. People received their medicines as expected.

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.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained. People were involved in their care planning.

People’s communication needs were met. People’s personal preferences were identified in their care plans. People were supported to maintain friendships and relationships.

Systems were effective for monitoring the quality and safety of the services provided. There was good involvement with community professionals. Staff knew how to raise concerns.

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 the service under the previous provider was requires improvement, published on 02 April 2020.

Why we inspected

We carried out this inspection to check whether the provider was meeting legal requirements and regulations. The service had been identified for use by the Local Authority as a designated care setting in response to the Winter Plan for people discharged from hospital with a positive COVID-19 status. This inspection was to ensure that the service was compliant with infection control and prevention measures.

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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.