Farndale House Residential Care Home

Updated 8 February 2020

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Farndale House 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 was managed by an ‘individual provider’ who is a ‘registered person’ and was in day to day charge of the service. Registered persons 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 the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. Due to technical problems, the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited the care home and met with two of the people living there. We spoke with both people about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with one member of staff, the registered provider and assistant manager.

We reviewed a selection of records. This included two people’s care records, one staff recruitment file, induction and training records. We reviewed two people's medication records and other records relating to the overall management, quality and safety of the home.

After the inspection

We obtained further information from the registered provider and assistant manager following the inspection. We received feedback from two relatives about the care their loved one received, spoke with two professionals who visited the home, and two further members of staff.

Updated 8 February 2020

About the service

Farndale House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to three people who have a learning disability. At the time of our inspection three people were living at the home. Accommodation is provided in single bedrooms.

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.

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

Staff were extremely committed to delivering exceptional care to people. The service demonstrated a strong and visible person centred culture which put people at the heart of everything they did. There was a deeply embedded person centred and inclusive ethos, and the home demonstrated the positive achievements made to improve people's quality and experience of life.

People were supported by staff who were exceptionally caring and compassionate. They cared for people like they would their own family members. People were valued as individuals and treated with respect. We observed peoples' support during our visit, staff were gentle and showed people kindness and affection, within their professional boundaries.

People continued to receive an exceptionally personalised and responsive service because staff had an excellent understanding of their needs. Staff demonstrated a high level of empathy, understood people very well and gave priority to the things that were most important to people. Staff were committed to enabling people to live fulfilling lives and supported them to achieve their goals.

There were strong links to the local community which were utilised to benefit people using the service and this enhanced their daily lives and provided them with equal opportunities. Staff responded to overcome any constraints presented when supporting people to live fulfilled lives.

The leadership of the home promoted a positive culture that was person-centred and inclusive. We received very positive feedback from people and staff about the quality of care and support people received and the overall management of the home.

Health and care records were kept to good standards and staff’s knowledge of people was extremely good. This enabled staff to recognise any changes in people and seek early access to healthcare services, this ensured positive continuity of care.

Staff knew how to keep people safe from harm. Risks were assessed and managed well. People received their medicines as they should.

Staff were recruited safely. There was a very low turnover of staffing which meant people were supported by a staff team who knew them and their preferences extremely well.

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.

Staff had access to relevant training and regular supervision to equip them with the knowledge and skills to care for people effectively.

The service applied the principles and values of 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.

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 good (published 02 June 2017).

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 reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.