Archived: Farcroft

Updated 14 November 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 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 23 October 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector, and inspection manager and an Expert by Experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection we reviewed information that we held about the service. The provider had submitted a Provider Information Return (PIR) before the inspection. A PIR asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.

We spoke to eight people who use the service and five relatives. We spoke with three members of staff and the registered manager. We looked at a range of documents including care records for five people and other documents such as safeguarding, incident and accident records, medication records and quality assurance information. We reviewed staff information including recruitment, supervision and training as well as various meeting minutes. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI) on three units. SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

Updated 14 November 2018

Farcroft is a care home that provides accommodation, care and support for up to 41 older people some of who may be living with dementia. Accommodation is arranged on the ground and first floor with stairs and a passenger lift linking each floor.

This inspection was carried out on 23 October 2018 and was unannounced. On the day of the inspection there were 37 people living at the home. The home had a registered manager who was present throughout the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 our last inspection of the service 3 and 4 August 2017 we rated the service as requires improvement as we found that improvements to safe, effective and well led were necessary. At this inspection the provider demonstrated to us that improvements had been made.

People felt safe at the home and there were enough staff on duty. People received the medicines they needed safely and staff understood their responsibilities about keeping people safe. Staff were using technology effectively to ensure that people's medicine needs were met in a timely and safe way. Risks were identified and managed well and any incidents and accidents were monitored to inform practice and make improvements to the service. We found one incidence of unexplained bruising on a person that had not been thoroughly explored. We have made a recommendation about this.

Staff had received the training and support they needed to carry out their roles effectively. People had confidence in the staff and were content with the care they received. People had enough to eat and drink and they enjoyed the food on offer. People were offered choices and their preferences were respected. Risks associated with nutritional needs were identified and managed and people received the support they needed to have a healthy diet.

People were supported to access health care services when they needed to. Staff described positive working relationships with health care professionals. People's needs had been assessed using formats in line with current good practice. Staff understood their responsibilities about the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff always asked people for their consent before providing care or support.

People and relatives spoke highly of the caring nature of the staff. Staff treated people kindly. Staff knew people well and treated them with respect. People were included in decisions about their care and support as much as possible. Where appropriate, their family or representatives were also included. Staff supported people to remain independent and promoted their dignity. People's privacy was respected and their personal information was kept securely.

Staff understood how to provide care in a personalised way and people's choices and preferences were considered. Staff had time to spend with people, supporting them to follow their interests and faith and to maintain contact with people who were important to them. People were supported to plan for care at the end of their life.

The home was clean and hygienic. Staff understood their responsibilities regarding prevention of the spread of infection.

People knew how to complain and felt confident that any issues would be addressed. There was a complaint system in place to record any concerns and the actions that were taken. The registered manager used complaints and suggestions to drive improvements at the service.

There was a clear management structure at the home and staff understood their roles and responsibilities. Staff had a firm understanding of the ethos of the home to provide care and support in line with the values of the provider. Staff understood the provider's equality policy and supported people with their diverse needs. Governance arrangements were embedded within practice and regular audits identified any shortfalls in standards of care. Action plans showed how learning from incidents and accidents was also used to drive improvements at the home. People, their relatives and staff were included in planning any developments at the home.

The registered manager had informed the CQC of significant events in a timely way. They were committed to keeping up to date with best practice and updates in health and social care.