The inspection took place on 18 August 2016 and was unannounced. There were 26 people living in the home at the time of our inspection. At our previous inspection in January 2014, we found that the provider was meeting the regulations in relation to the outcomes we inspected.
Fig House provides accommodation and personal care and support for up to 26 older people living with dementia. Accommodation is arranged over two floors in a large building, which has been converted and adapted for use as a residential care home, plus a large extension. The home has 26 bedrooms of varying size, of which all have an en-suite facilities. There is a range of communal spaces including lounges, dining room and sitting areas. Toilet and bathroom facilities are dispersed throughout the building. The home is situated in a quiet residential area of Weston Super Mare.
The home has a registered manager. 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 and their relatives spoke of the quality of the care delivered. They told us that staff went above and beyond to ensure they received a person centred service.
Staff maintained people’s privacy and dignity ensuring that any care was carried out in private.
We saw that interactions between staff and people who used the service were caring and respectful with staff showing patience, kindness and compassion.
We observed that staff knew and understood the people they cared for and ensured that people were provided with choices in all aspects of daily life. Comments made included; “The care my loved one has received has been second to none; the staff are incredibly attentive and genuinely create relationships with the residents.”
Staff were well trained and used their training effectively to support people and assist them with their daily life and help them wherever possible to retain their independence.
Staff told us that the provider had developed some extra training events for staff to enable them to gain knowledge and skills to enhance the lives of people who were living with dementia.
Staff were able to demonstrate an excellent understanding and knowledge of people’s support needs to ensure people’s safety and protect their human rights.
Staff went through a vigorous recruitment process before starting work. As part of the recruitment process, the provider used value based recruitment techniques, a clearly defined culture statement and staff competency assessments.
People received their medicines as prescribed by their GP. Medicines were managed safely to ensure people received them in accordance with their health needs and the prescriber’s instructions.
There was a well-structured relationship with the local GP’s and District Nursing Team. Staff told us that this assisted them to discuss any issues relating to people’s health and well-being and to assist with regular health checks such as blood pressure readings ‘without fuss’.
Staff were attentive to people’s appetites and ensured that people were provided with a meal of their choice. Special diets were catered for. A choice of two meals was presented to people at meal times and they were able to choose what they wanted at that time. Menus were in place in the dining areas of the home so people’s relatives and friends could see the meals provided.
Risks to people’s nutrition were minimised because people were offered meals that were suitable for their individual dietary needs and met their preferences.
The experiences of people were positive. Staff had good relationships with people and were attentive to their needs.
Activities were arranged to suit the preferences of the people.
Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity at all times and interacted with people in a caring, respectful and professional manner.
People were protected from abuse and felt safe at the home. Staff were knowledgeable about the risks of abuse and reporting procedures. We found there were sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs.
The home was clean and staff had received training in infection prevention and control. Bedroom’s contained equipment necessary to support the person such as ceiling hoists and specialist beds.
The provider had a whistleblowing policy to inform staff how they could raise concerns, both within the organisation and with outside statutory agencies. This meant there was an alternative way of staff raising a concern if they felt unable to raise it with the registered manager.
The home had a complaints policy, details of which were provided to all the people who lived in the home and their relatives. People’s relatives told us that they had not had any reason to complain but if they did ‘they knew what to do’.