Archived: FairHaven

Updated 1 November 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

This inspection took place on 11 August 2016. We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice because this is a very small service and we needed to be sure that someone would be there to meet us on the day of the inspection. Due to the size of the service the inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service, including any information the provider had sent us. This included the provider information return (PIR). A PIR is a report that we ask the provider to complete which tells us how they deliver their service, numbers of staff and people using the service, and any plans they have for development. We also reviewed any notifications the provider had sent us. Notifications are reports the provider must send to us to tell us of any significant incidents or events that have occurred.

During the inspection we looked at a variety of records and spoke to people. We reviewed three people’s care records which included needs assessments, risk assessments and daily care logs; management records which included three staff files, meeting minutes, policies, development plans and evidence of training. We also spoke to the registered manager, two care staff and three people who used the service.

Updated 1 November 2016

The inspection took place on the 11 August 2016. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice of the inspection, as this is a very small service where people are often out during the day and we needed to make sure that the registered manager would be available to meet us. The service was last inspected in July 2014.

The service is registered to provide care and support to people with a learning disability. It currently provides care to three people who live at Fairhaven, in Derbyshire.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.’

People were safe at Fairhaven. They were protected from harm and abuse by skilled and knowledgeable staff who understood their responsibility to keep people safe. Risks to people were identified and managed whilst individual choice and independence was respected. There were sufficient staff to meet the individual needs of people and staff were recruited safely to ensure their suitability to care for people. Medicines were stored, managed and administered safely which helped to ensure that people were protected from the risks associated with unsafe management of medicines.

Staff had the knowledge, skills and training to carry out their roles and care for people effectively. New staff received a robust induction into the service that equipped them with the knowledge and skills to care for people. Staff were supported and supervised by an experienced registered manager who supported their individual personal development. Staff understood and followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were in place where required. Consent was sought and people’s capacity was considered when decisions needed to be made about a person’s care in their best interests. People enjoyed the food provided and they were involved in developing menus, shopping for food and their personal preferences were catered for. People were supported to maintain good health by supporting their access to healthcare services and by making appropriate referrals.

People were cared for by staff who were kind, compassionate and enjoyed their jobs. We observed positive, natural interactions between staff and people who used the service and there was a genuine interest in people and their daily activities. People were involved in planning their care and in decisions about their daily life. They were treated with respect and dignity by staff who also promoted their independence and respected their rights.

People received individualised care that met their individual needs and preferences. People were included in discussions about their care and their views and wishes were respected and recorded in their care plans. Staff clearly knew people well including their individual preferences and aspirations; and they provided timely care and support to people in ways that respected their individuality. People were supported to follow their social and lifestyle interests and to access related activities. Relationships with family and friends were encouraged and supported by the staff team. The service sought feedback about people’s care experience and used it to improve the service and the quality of care people received. Incidents were reported and investigated and complaints were managed and responded to appropriately.

There was a positive, inclusive and empowering culture within the service where people and staff felt valued. There was visible leadership and management from the registered manager who was part of the team. Staff felt supported and motivated by the registered manager and everyone was keen to provide a high quality service for people. The registered manager was supported by the provider who provided overall governance of the service. The management and governance arrangements helped to ensure the quality and safety of people’s care at the service.