Ferrars Hall Care Home

Updated 19 October 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

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors 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

Ferrars Hall Care Home 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. Ferrars Hall Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

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

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and three relatives. We received feedback from the local authority about the service. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care staff, care staff and a hospitality supervisor. We also spoke to a hairdresser who visits the service regularly.

We reviewed a range of records, this included three people's care records and medicines’ records. We also looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed, including incident records, complaints, compliments, quality assurance processes and policies.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarity about quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 19 October 2022

About the service

Ferrars Hall Care Home is a purpose-built residential care home providing accommodation and personal care and support to up to 66 older people and people with dementia. The service is over three floors and has various facilities available including shared lounges and dining areas, a hair salon, cinema room, coffee shop and shared garden. At the time of our inspection there were 61 people using the service.

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

Staff understood the importance of safeguarding people wherever possible from poor care and harm. When staff had any concerns about people, they knew where to escalate and report these concerns. Staff supported people to receive their medicines as prescribed. Staff were trained on, and aware of, infection prevention guidance and good practice. Staff encouraged people to eat healthily and drink enough.

Staff were kind, caring and knew people’s individual needs, wishes and preferences. Staff monitored people’s known risks. Complaints were investigated and resolved wherever possible and actions were taken to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Staff gave people privacy and treated them with dignity and respect when supporting them and helped promote people's independence. Staff involved people and their relatives, when reviewing people’s care and support needs. Care plans were reviewed by staff and updated when changes occurred.

Enough skilled and suitable staff had been safely recruited. Staff had received the required training, spot checks and ongoing support. This helped staff maintain and improve their skills to fulfil their role and responsibilities.

Activities co-ordinators had been recruited to help ensure people spent their time meaningfully occupied, should they wish to take part in activities.

Monitoring and oversight of the service provided was effective in identifying and driving improvements. The registered manager gave examples of how the provider shared learning amongst its services when incidents had occurred. The registered manager and the staff team took on board learning when things went wrong. Audits were undertaken and there was analysis of risk, incidents, accidents, near misses that helped identify any areas or people that required further monitoring and action. The area manager undertook monitoring visits of the service that looked at all areas of how it was run and what was happening within the service.

The registered manager and staff team worked with other organisations, and health and social care professionals, to provide people with joined up 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.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 22 July 2021 and this is the first inspection under the new provider. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 25 November 2019.

Why we inspected

This inspection was based on the service being unrated since the new provider reregistered with the CQC. The inspection was also prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing levels. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

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, which will help inform when we next inspect.