Archived: Fallings Heath House

Updated 28 July 2017

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 11 July 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of one 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.

As part of the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service. We looked to see if statutory notifications had been sent by the provider. A statutory notification contains information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law. We sought information and views from the local authority. We also reviewed information that had been sent to us by the public. We used this information to help us plan our inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with three people who used the service and two relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, the cook and five members of staff including senior reablement officers and reablement officers (care staff). We carried out observations regarding the quality of care people received. We reviewed records relating to two people’s care including their medicines. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service; including recruitment records, complaints and quality assurance records.

Updated 28 July 2017

This inspection took place on 11 July 2017 and was unannounced. At the last inspection completed on 06 August 2015 we found the service was meeting all of the legal requirements we looked at. We provided an overall rating for this service of ‘good’ with a rating of ‘requires improvement’ under well-led. At this inspection we found the service remained good. Some improvements were still required under ‘well-led’.

Fallings Heath House is a is a residential home providing respite accommodation for up to eight people with a range of support needs. Many people using the service have physical and learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection there were 38 people regularly using the service for respite stays. There were two people staying at the service during the inspection. The local authority had notified people using the service and staff of their intention to close the service. A date for closure had not been confirmed at the time of the inspection.

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.

Quality assurance systems were in place that identified areas of improvement required within the service. Systems were not in place to ensure staff training and development was effectively recorded and monitored. Records were not always in place to support decisions made in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were cared for by a staff team who felt supported and were committed to their roles. People felt involved in the service and that their views were heard.

People were supported by a staff team who understood how to protect them from risk including potential abuse, accidents and injury. People were supported by sufficient numbers of care staff who had been recruited safely for their roles. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.

People felt care staff had the required skills to support them effectively. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People received sufficient amounts of food and drink. People were supported to maintain their day to day health.

People were supported by care staff who were kind and caring towards them. People’s dignity was protected. They were supported to make choices and to maintain their independence.

People received care and support that met their needs and preferences. Care plans were in place which were reviewed regularly and updated when needed. People were supported to access leisure opportunities and to pursue personal interests.

People’s feedback about the service was sought. Any concerns or complaints were addressed appropriately and improvements made where necessary.