Faircross Care Home London Limited

Updated 16 February 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 care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has 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 20 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 16 February 2022

About the service

Faircross Care Home London Limited is a residential care home that provides personal care for up to five people with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection there were five people living at the service receiving care.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a domestic style terraced house set over two floors. Each person had their own bedroom. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

People’s experience of using this service

The service applied the principles and values Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

People told us they felt safe living at the service. Staff understood safeguarding and what to do if they suspected abuse. Risks relating to people were assessed and these risks were monitored and mitigated. The service completed numerous, regular health and safety checks to ensure people’s safety. There were sufficient staff, all of whom had been recruited safely. Medicines were managed safely. Staff understood the importance of infection control. Incident and accidents were recorded, and actions put in place to limit their reoccurrence.

People’s needs were assessed before admission to ensure the service could meet their needs. Staff received inductions to ready them in their new roles. Staff received training to do their jobs and were supervised by the registered manager. People were supported to eat and drink and maintain healthy diets. Staff communicated with each other and other agencies. People were supported with their health care needs. People were able to decorate their rooms how they pleased. 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.

People were treated well by staff. Staff were trained in equality and diversity and documentation at the service supported people’s human rights. People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care. People’s independence was promoted and their dignity and privacy respected.

The service provided personalised care. People’s needs and preferences were detailed in care plans and these were reviewed regularly. People’s communication needs were met by the service. People were supported to take part in activities. People and their relatives were able to make complaints and when this happened the service responded appropriately. People’s end of life wishes were recorded.

People and relatives spoke positively about the management. The registered manager and other staff knew their roles and responsibilities. The service was person centred and the registered manager acted on the duty of candour appropriately. Quality assurance processes measured the quality of care and safety of people in the home. People, relatives and staff were engaged and involved in the service through meetings and surveys. The service worked in partnership with other agencies.

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 requires improvement (published 15 February 2019.) The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.