Fairview Court Care Home

Updated 10 April 2021

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 the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 24 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 10 April 2021

This inspection took place on 16 May and 19 June 2018 and was unannounced. The service is registered to provide personal and nursing care for up to 49 people and specialises in the care of people living with dementia. The service also looked after people with general nursing care needs.

Five of the beds (called pathway three beds) were funded by the NHS and provided a six week assessment service following discharge from hospital. The home is a purpose built care home with facilities spread over three floors. All floors were fully accessible and all bedrooms were for single occupancy. At the time of our inspection there were 49 people living in the home.

There was 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.

Why we have rated the service as Good?

There were effective safeguarding systems in place to ensure people were not harmed. All staff received safeguarding adults training and were aware of their responsibility to protect people from harm. The staff had reported appropriately when there were concerns regarding a person’s welfare. Safe recruitment procedures were followed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed.

Any risks to people’s health and welfare were assessed and appropriate management plans put in place to reduce or eliminate that risk. The procedures in place for the management of medicines followed best practice guidelines and were administered to people safely. The premises were well maintained and regular maintenance checks were completed.

People were looked after by sufficient numbers of staff so their care and support needs could be met. Staffing numbers were adjusted as and when necessary. All staff felt the staffing numbers were appropriate and they could meet people’s needs. The staff teams worked well together and although tended to work on designated floors, they helped their colleagues out whenever was required. People were safe because the staffing levels were sufficient.

People’s care and support needs were assessed before admission to Fairview Court to ensure the staff team had the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet their needs. In addition, they ensured that any specific equipment that was needed for the person was available. People’s assessed needs were kept under review throughout their stay.

There was a programme of essential training all staff had to complete. This enabled them to do their jobs well. New staff completed an induction training programme and then completed the Care Certificate. The Care Certificate covers a set of standards that social care and health workers must work to in their daily working life. Care staff were encouraged to complete nationally recognised qualifications in health and social care. All staff had a regular supervision meeting with a senior member of staff to support them to do their job.

People were provided with sufficient food and drink and had a choice in what they ate and drank. People’s individual dietary requirements were met. There were measures in place to reduce or eliminate the risk of malnutrition or dehydration. Body weights were checked at least monthly and fortified foods provided if people were losing weight. Arrangements were made for people to see their GP and other healthcare professionals when they needed to.

People were supported to make their own choices and decisions where possible. Where people lacked the capacity to make decisions, assessments were recorded of best interest decisions. We found the service to be meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The service was exceptionally caring. The staff team demonstrated their passion for caring for people, including those people living with dementia. The staff team had good working relationships with each other and with the people they were looking after. There was a real commitment from all staff to provide the best possible care, to provide ‘family life’ in a homely environment. Families, friends and other visitors were also included in this. People were given the opportunity to take part in a range of different meaningful activities. There were group activities but also staff could spend one to one time with people who were confined to bed or their bedroom.

Each person had a plan of care based on their care and support needs. The person of their relatives was involved in drawing up the plans and this ensured they were provided with personalised care. Clear detailed care records were maintained which evidenced the support each person received. Communication between staff handing over to the next shift ensured the ongoing healthcare needs of people were met appropriately.

There was good management and leadership in place with the registered manager generating a positive caring culture within the staff team. The registered manager was supported by a deputy and qualified nurses, to ensure the service was well-led. Regular staff meetings were held to keep all staff up to date with changes and developments in the service. Staff were encouraged to make suggestions and were listened to.

The registered provider had a regular programme of audits in place which ensured that the quality and safety of the service was checked. These checks were completed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.