Fountains Care Home

Updated 26 November 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

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 conducted by one inspector and an inspection manager.

Service and service type

Fountains is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registering with us in May 2020. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven staff including the cook, housekeeper, care assistants, registered manager and the deputy manager. We spoke with three professionals who work with the service including a GP, chiropodist and community matron.

We reviewed a range of records including four people’s care records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff support and a range of records relating to how the service operated and was managed.

After the inspection

We reviewed staff training records and the providers policies and procedures.

Updated 26 November 2021

About the service

Fountains Care home is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 80 people. At the time of our inspection 24 people lived at the home and one person was in hospital. Accommodation is provided in a purpose-built home across four wings. Two of these wings specialises in providing care to people living with dementia.

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

People felt safe living at Fountains Care home. Staff and the management team knew how to keep people safe and protected from harm. Risks associated with people’s care were identified, assessed and well managed. People received their medicines when needed and medicines were managed safely. Staff were recruited safely. There were enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs during our visit and some new staff were being recruited. The home was clean, and the provider’s infection and control measures were effective. A range of communal areas including a bistro and well-maintained garden was available for people to enjoy.

People and their relatives had confidence in the ability of staff to provide effective care. Staff completed an induction when they started working at the home. Staff were developed through ongoing training to help them provide effective care to people. People liked the food available and their dietary needs were met. People had access to healthcare professionals to ensure their ongoing needs were met.

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 received person centred care and had developed positive relationships with staff who they described as ‘very good’. Staff had a good understanding of people’s care and support needs. We saw staff treated people with kindness. People’s right to dignity and privacy was respected and their independence was promoted.

Care plans were developed in partnership with people to ensure they reflected people’s preferences, religious and cultural beliefs and values. The management team encouraged people, relatives and staff to provide feedback about the service. Feedback was used to drive forward improvement and learn lessons.

People and relatives spoke positively about the registered manager. The registered manager had systems and processes in place to learn from incidents and events at the service. Good governance was embedded, and managerial and provider oversight of the service was good. Staff felt supported by the management team who worked in an open and transparent way.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on the 13 May 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection to provide a rating for the service.

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

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.