Archived: Ford Place

Updated 13 September 2016

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 unannounced inspection took place on 11 August 2016. It was undertaken by two inspectors 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. Their area of expertise was in caring for older people and those living with dementia.

Prior to our inspection we looked at information that we held about the service including information received and notifications. Notifications are information on important events that happen in the home that the provider is required to notify us about by law. We also made contact with the local authority contract monitoring officer to aid with our planning of this inspection.

During our inspection we spoke with 11 people. We also spoke with the operations manager, regional director and eight staff who worked at the home. These included a nurse, housekeeper, administrator, chef, daily activities co-ordinator and four care staff.

We looked at four people’s care records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staff training records, audits, and meeting minutes.

Updated 13 September 2016

Ford Place is registered to provide accommodation and nursing care for up to 49 people some who may be living with complex nursing needs and/or dementia. They were 31 people living in the home at the time of the inspection. The accommodation is over two floors which is served by a passenger lift.

This unannounced inspection took place on 11 August 2016.

At the last comprehensive inspection on 27 July and 4 August 2015the overall rating for the home was requires improvement. With improvements needed to make the home safer, effective, responsive and well led. We asked the provider to take action to make improvements to the assessment and monitoring of the service. During this inspection whilst we found improvements had been made we need to see this is sustained.

There was no registered manager in post at the time of this inspection. 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.

Not all staff had felt well supported due to lack of a stable management team. An operations manager and a regional director have been providing additional support to the home over the last few weeks.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. The provider was acting in accordance with the requirements of the MCA including the DoLS. The provider was able to demonstrate how they supported people to make decisions about their care. Where people were unable to do so, there were records showing that decisions were being taken in their best interests. DoLS applications had been submitted to the appropriate authority. This meant that people did not have restrictions placed on them without the correct procedures being followed.

People were provided with a good choice of meals. When necessary, people were given any extra help they needed to make sure that they had enough to eat and drink to keep them healthy.

Staff had received training, which was regularly updated in order to enable them to provide care in a way which ensured people's individual and changing needs were met. Staff knew how to manage any identified risks and provided the care needed as described in each person's care record. Peoples health needs were supported as they had access to a range of visiting health and social care professionals. .. Clear arrangements were also in place for ordering, storing, administering and disposing of people's unused medicines.

The provider had a recruitment process in place and staff were only employed after all essential safety checks had been satisfactorily completed.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect.

The regional director had carried out regular audits to assess what improvements needed to be made. Action plans had been put in place as needed.