Farm House

Updated 11 March 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 28 February 2022 and was unannounced.

Updated 11 March 2022

We inspected the service on 5 and 6 June 2018. The inspection was unannounced. Farm House provides accommodation and personal care for up to five people with a learning disability. The service is a detached old farm house set in a rural area on the outskirts of Woodchurch village on Highlands Farm, which is a tourist attraction and where the provider has other registered services located. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Each person has a single room and there is a communal bathroom, separate shower room, toilet, kitchen/diner, laundry and lounge. There is an enclosed garden and paved seating area.

At our last inspection we rated the service ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘Good’ and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People told us they felt safe living at Farm House and staff helped them when they needed support. A relative told us "This place is fantastic for [my loved one]. They love it here”

The service had a registered manager in post. 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.

The provider took appropriate action to manage accidents and safeguarding incidents. Staff members were prepared to report any suspected abuse and knew about the procedure for this. Staff were recruited safely and medicines were stored and administered in a timely manner.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People's needs were assessed before moving to the service and staff had the right skills and training to support people. People were encouraged to eat healthy and balanced diets.

People received a service which was caring. People were treated with dignity and respect by staff who were compassionate and caring. Staff treated people's private information confidentially. People were able to make decisions about how their care was provided, and were involved in reviews along with family members.

People received care that was personalised to their individual preferences. Staff knew people's needs and personalities well. When people or their families had complaints or concerns they were encouraged to raise them. Management saw complaints to be an opportunity to improve the service.

The registered provider, Canterbury Oast Trust had a set of core values and the registered manager aligned those values with this service. The registered manager made sure these values were embedded into the culture of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below