Folkestone Care Centre

Updated 17 September 2022

.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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

Folkestone Care Centre is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Folkestone Care Centre is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

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 the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with eleven people who used the service and eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with twelve members of staff including the registered manager, compliance lead, group clinical lead, nurses, care workers, wellbeing staff and maintenance staff. We observed interactions between staff and people in communal areas. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 17 September 2022

About the service

Folkestone Care Centre is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 110 older people and people living with dementia. The service is based over four floors in one purpose-built building. At the time of or inspection there were 67 people using the service.

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

People and their loved ones told us they were happy living at Folkestone Care Centre. People told us there were sufficient staff to meet their needs, and that staff were able to keep them safe from harm. Staff we spoke with understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse. There had been improvements in medicines management, and risks to people were now fully assessed with guidance in place to inform staff how to support people with all their health needs. When accidents and incidents occurred there was a system in place to make improvements and ensure the relevant action was taken to mitigate any risks.

The service was clean and staff were observed to be following guidance in relation to wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). There had been improvements made to the environment; dementia friendly signage had been implemented to support people who could become disorientated.

People and their relatives told us staff had the skills and experience to support them. Staff had a support system and had regular supervision to aid them in their roles. Before people moved into the service, staff completed an assessment of their needs to ensure they could meet them. People received support from external healthcare professionals including the falls team, GP community mental health team and the district nurse when required. People told us they enjoyed the food at Folkestone Care Centre.

People told us staff treated them with care and kindness. A person told us, “Oh yes, staff are all very friendly.” Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible, and to maintain their appearance. A relative told us their loved one had improved significantly since moving into the service. People were supported to make decisions about their care. 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.

People received person cantered care specific to their needs. Care plans and risk assessments had been improved since our last inspection, and staff had sought support from Dementia UK to make them person centred. People were supported to take part in activities and to spend time with their loved ones. Information was accessible to people in a format that was meaningful for them. People and their relatives told us they knew how to raise concerns and complaints.

There was a positive culture within the service which supported positive outcomes for people. Staff spoke about people with kindness. People were supported to be involved in the service and share their thoughts and ideas through surveys and meetings. Since our last inspection there were improvements with the checks and audits completed. A new electronic system to audit the service was implemented and when improvements were identified they were added to a continuous improvement plan.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 8 October 2019) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection to check the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report covers all five domains, safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.