Fairlight

Updated 15 February 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 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

The inspection was carried out by an inspector 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.

Service and service type

Fairlight 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

We reviewed the information we held about the service. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with ten people living at the home and three visiting relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with 11 staff, including the registered manager, unit manager, deputy manager, three care staff, a maintenance person, the chef, an activities co-ordinator, an administrator and a domestic staff member. Additionally, we spoke with a visiting community nurse who provided clinical support to people living at Fairlight.

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 could not talk with us. We reviewed five people’s care plans and five staff recruitment files. We also reviewed a variety of records relevant to the management of the service, including medicine administration records, staff training information, the provider’s policies and procedures, and audits carried out by the management team.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 15 February 2022

About the service

Fairlight is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 29 people aged 65 and over. There were 26 people living at the home at the time of the inspection.

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

People spoke positively about their experience of living at the home. They were protected from the risk of abuse by staff who knew the action to take if they suspected someone had been abused. People had risk management plans in place which staff followed to keep them safe. There were enough staff working on each shift to provide the support people needed. The provider followed safe recruitment practices.

People’s medicines were safely managed. Staff were support in their roles through an induction, training and regular supervision. People’s needs were assessed before they moved into the home. These assessments were used to form the basis of people’s care plans. People were also supported to maintain a balanced diet and to access a range of healthcare services, when needed. Staff followed safe infection control practices while working.

Staff sought consent from people before supporting them. 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. The provider worked with other agencies to ensure people received good quality care.

Staff acted with care and consideration. They treated people with dignity and respected their privacy. People were involved in the planning of their care and in making decisions about the support they received. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and people were confident any issues they raised would be addressed.

People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the management team and the running of the home. The registered manager and staff understood the responsibilities of their roles. The provider had systems in place for seeking and acting on any feedback. The management team carried out a range of checks and audits to help drive continuous improvement within the home.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 14 September 2020 and this is the first inspection at which a rating has been awarded.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection in order to provide an initial 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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.