Frank Foster House

Updated 19 April 2023

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 team consisted of 2 inspectors and 2 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.

Frank Foster House 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. Frank Foster House 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.

Inspection activity started on 14 February 2023 and ended on 10 March 2023. We visited the location’s office/service on 15 February 2023.

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 observed the care provided to help us understand the experience of all people, in particular those who could not talk with us. We spoke to 10 relatives and 3 staff members, the registered manager and deputy manager. We reviewed a range of records, including 4 people's care records. We looked at 5 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.

Following the inspection we spoke to 12 relatives. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training and quality assurance records.

Updated 19 April 2023

About the service

Frank Foster House is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 80 people. The service provides support to older people and younger adults, some of whom may be living with dementia, physical disability or sensory impairment. The service accommodates people in one adapted building over 2 floors. At the time of our inspection there were 65 people using the service.

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

People were not always protected from the risk of harm. The service was not always well led. The management of risk needs to improve in relation to fire safety and people’s personal emergency evacuation plans [PEEPs].

We have made recommendations to the registered manager around staffing levels, staff deployment and audit processes.

People were supported by staff who had been recruited safely. The provider ensured staff received training that met people's needs. People received their medicines from trained staff who had their competencies checked by management.

People were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff knew how to identify signs of abuse and felt comfortable raising concerns with the registered manager.

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 registered manager acted in accordance with their legal and regulatory requirements and shared information in an open, honest and timely manner.

The service involved people and those important to them in a meaningful way. People's views were listened to and acted upon, meaning they had a direct say in the running of their home.

The registered manager and provider encouraged an open culture of learning from incidents, accidents and other relevant events.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was outstanding (published 14 May 2018)

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, caring and well-led.

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from outstanding to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

The registered manager has taken immediate action to lessen the risks identified during this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Frank Foster House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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