8 June 2021
During a routine inspection
Faro Lodge is a care home providing respite care for up to six people who have a learning disability. On the day of our inspection, one person was at the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Risk assessments were not always in place. One person’s care plan described risks of leaving the service without staff knowing. No detailed risk assessments had been created to mitigate risk. This person had left the service unsupported during their stay. This placed them in danger.
The provider supported many people who used the service for short stays, periodically throughout the year. The provider had not assessed the mental capacity of any person using the service and had instead completed a Best Interest Decision and Deprivation of Liberty authorisation request. This is not in line with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
People were not supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff did not support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service did not support this practice.
Communication between the staff and the person supported on the day of the inspection was positive and the person appeared well engaged. Care plans lacked sufficient detail on how to communicate with people, causing a risk that the support may not be consistent.
At this inspection we found the same areas we had highlighted in our previous inspection, evidencing a lack of progress had been made following our last inspection. In addition, other areas appear to of now deteriorated and additional breaches of regulation have now been identified.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 13 March 2020).
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection enough improvement had not been made and the provider was still in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about a person leaving the service unsupported. A decision was made for us to complete a comprehensive inspection following this.
You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.
Enforcement
We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.
We have identified breaches in relation to people being kept safe when being supported, people’s mental capacity being assessed and the provider’s response to previous inspections that have not enabled lessons to be learnt within the service.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.