Fordrough Cottage

Updated 5 November 2022

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 was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Fordrough Cottage 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. Fordrough Cottage 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been appointed and was in the process of applying to register.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 08 September 2022 and ended on 23 September 2022. We visited the service on 08 and 12 September 2022.

What we did before the inspection

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 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 all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We communicated with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. People who used the service who were unable to talk with us used different ways of communicating including Makaton, British Sign Language, objects and their body language. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the home manager, the nominated individual, the quality and compliance manager, a senior support worker and support workers. We reviewed a range of records. These included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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. We spoke with three relatives about the care their loved ones received and a professional who had recently worked with the service.

The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 5 November 2022

About the service

Fordrough Cottage is a residential care home providing the regulated activity of accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care to up to four people. The service provides support to people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service. People had their own bedrooms and shared a lounge, dining room, kitchen and garden.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

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

Right Support: Relatives told us they were concerned about recent changes in the staff team. The manager agreed recruiting the right staff had been a challenge but felt this issue was now resolved. Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence over their own lives. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests. The service worked with people to plan for when they experienced periods of distress, so their freedoms were restricted only if there was no alternative. The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment that met their sensory and physical needs. People had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their rooms. Staff supported people to pursue their hobbies and interests. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community. Staff supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing.

Right Care: People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. Staff understood people’s cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. Relatives spoke positively about the staff team. One relative described the staff team as ‘respectful.’ Relatives told us staff protected people’s dignity. People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs. People could pursue interests tailored to them. The service gave people opportunities to try new experiences which enhanced and enriched their lives.

Right Culture: Relatives told us communication with staff about their loved ones could be improved. Staff knew and understood people’s care needs well. Staff were responsive to people and helped them live the quality of life of their choosing. Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. The manager evaluated the quality of support provided to people and involved people, their relatives and other professionals when appropriate.

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.

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 11 September 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the care people were being given. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe effective and caring sections of this full report.

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.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.

Follow up

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