Archived: HF Trust - Falstaff House

Updated 28 July 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 16 July 2018 and was conducted by one inspector. It was a comprehensive, announced inspection. We gave the provider 48 hours' notice of our visit as this is a small home and we needed to be sure staff and people would be available to speak with us.

We reviewed information received about the service, for example the statutory notifications the provider had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to send to us by law. We also contacted the local authority commissioners to find out their views of the service provided. These are people who contract care and support services paid for by the local authority. They did not share any information of concern about the service.

During the inspection visit we spoke with one person who lived at the home. We spoke with the registered manager and three care staff. Following our inspection visit we spoke with one relative.

People who lived at the home were not able to tell us in detail about their support plans, this was because of their complex needs. However, we observed how care and support were delivered in the communal areas and reviewed two people’s care plans and daily records to see how their care and treatment was planned and delivered. We looked at other records related to people’s care and how the service operated, including medicine records and the provider’s quality assurance audits.

Updated 28 July 2018

We inspected this service on 16 July 2018.

HF Trust – Falstaff 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 is delivered from a large detached house in a residential area and provides accommodation and nursing care for up to eight people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. Six people lived at the home on the day of our inspection visit.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last inspection in March 2016 the service was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the quality of care had been maintained and people continued to receive a service that was safe, caring, effective and responsive to their needs. The rating remains 'Good'.

There were enough staff to keep people safe and provide effective care and support. Staff had time to spend with people and respond to their physical and emotional needs. Staff knew people well, and were aware of changes in people’s wellbeing which could indicate they were worried or concerned. Staff understood their responsibility to report any concerns to their managers so they could be investigated further.

People were cared for and supported by staff who had the skills and training to meet their needs. The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Risks to people’s individual health and wellbeing were identified and care was planned to minimise the risks, while promoting people’s choice and independence.

People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet that met their preferences and were referred to healthcare services when their health needs changed. The provider had systems to ensure information between healthcare professionals was shared effectively and people received their medicines as prescribed.

Many staff had worked at the home for several years, which had allowed people to build strong relationships with them. Staff treated people in a way that respected their privacy and promoted their individuality. People were supported to take part in social activities which were meaningful to them, in a group or on a one-to-one basis.

The provider and registered manager completed quality assurance checks to ensure the home was meeting required standards and people who used the service were well cared for. The checks had ensured the standards of care we found at our last inspection had been maintained.