Fernihurst Nursing Home

Updated 1 July 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

Three inspectors visited the service.

Service and service type

Fernihurst Nursing Home 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 had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight people who lived at Fernihurst Nursing Home. Seven relatives shared their views on the care provided. We spoke with sixteen members of staff including the area manager, registered manager, deputy manager, nurses, care workers, housekeeping staff and the chef.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who were not able to comment specifically on the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included care records and medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We contacted relatives visiting the service to gain their views on the quality of care at the home.

Updated 1 July 2021

About the service

Fernihurst Nursing Home was providing personal and nursing care to 43 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 50 people. The building is purpose built over three floors with lounges on each floor. There is an accessible garden with different seating areas and raised flower beds.

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

There was a calm and welcoming atmosphere throughout the home with good relationships amongst people, staff and visitors. A relative said, “During a very difficult year for all of us the staff have been very understanding and helped me and our family cope.”

People said they felt safe; they received their medicines on time. A person said, “I am very happy . I feel safe.” People were protected from abuse because staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities. The management team took this role seriously and liaised with other health and social care professionals to protect people.

Staffing levels delivered responsive support to people. Our discussions with the management team and staff demonstrated their empathy towards the people using the service; they recognised people's emotional needs. Staff were attentive, whatever their role in the home, this was because they worked as a team to promote people's well-being. A relative said, “We have been extremely lucky that there was space to take my Mum, the care and love all the staff show her and my Dad has been outstanding, I don't have to worry about my Mum, which is a huge relief for me.”

Positive, meaningful relationships had been developed between staff, people and their families. People were at ease in their surroundings; a person said, “I call this home.” A relative said communication was so important to them and described the staff as “amazing” at fulfilling this role. The service respected and recognised people's life experiences and their values, so people were supported to participate in events important to them.

There was a stable staff group; care staff were kept up to date with changes in people's health and spoke respectfully about the people they supported. They understood how they contributed to both people's physical health and mental wellbeing.

The staff structure provided clear lines of accountability and responsibility, which helped ensure staff at the right level made decisions about the care and well-being of people. The management team regularly spent time on the floor to ensure they kept in touch with staff and people living at the home. A staff member said, “Good company to work for with good managers and a good bunch of people work here.”

Recruited care staff suited the caring values of the service and recognised the importance of team work to provide consistent and safe care. The home was well maintained, clean, and staff understood the importance of good infection control.

Complaints were well managed. Visitors said they were kept informed and praised the standard of communication about changes to the health of their relatives. A relative said, “The staff have kept us updated with any changes…I would recommend them to anybody. I would find it hard to find how they could improve.”

The registered manager and care staff worked well with community health professionals to ensure people received effective care. Referrals were appropriately made to health care services when people's needs changed. People's care needs were regularly reviewed. Risk assessments identified when people could be at risk. They covered people's physical and mental health needs and the environment they lived in.

The service was well-led. There were good systems in place which enabled the registered manager and the providers to monitor the quality of care. For example, through regular reviews, surveys, meetings and observations of staff practice. Feedback from people using the service, relatives and quality assurance records showed this approach had been effective.

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.

Rating at last inspection and update The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 4 July 2019). There were no breaches of regulation. At this inspection we found improvements had been made.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had made improvements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Responsive and Well-led. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Fernihurst Nursing Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk