Background to this inspection
Updated
4 October 2021
Good News Family Care (Homes) Ltd, a Christian based registered charity, provides services at Oldfield Farm.
Oldfield Farm registered with CQC in November 2014 to provide the regulated activity:
• Accommodation for persons who require treatment for substance misuse.
Oldfield Farm has a CQC registered manager and an accountable controlled drugs officer.
Oldfield Farm provides accommodation and substance misuse rehabilitation interventions for up to four women, aged over 18 years. Women can also be accompanied by children aged up to seven years old. Clients had been assessed as needing residential support to assist their recovery from addiction to drugs, alcohol, or other addictive behaviours. The service offers a structured recovery programme including relapse prevention, life skills, individual targeted recovery support, and skills for work training projects. Principles of Christian spirituality and faith run through the structured recovery programme. The service does not offer detoxification treatment interventions. The structured recovery programme runs for six months. Clients can reside at Oldfield Farm for up to nine months as required, with the option of residing at the provider’s step-down facility for up to two years. Placements at Oldfield Farm can be funded through local authorities, state benefits, or privately. When we inspected, Oldfield Farm had two clients admitted.
This inspection was the fourth inspection of Oldfield Farm. At our previous inspection in December 2018 we issued the provider with five requirement notices with action the provider must take to meet:
Regulation 12 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 - Safe care and treatment
Regulation 15 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Premises and equipment
Regulation 17 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014- Good governance
Regulation 18 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 – Staffing
Regulation 19 Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 Fit and proper persons employed.
During this inspection, the CQC found the provider had made improvements to meet the Regulations.
What people who use the service say
People said they felt safe at Oldfield Farm.
People told us they could personalise their bedrooms.
One person said, “I wouldn’t be where I am without staff at Oldfield Farm, I have learned to love myself, have learned strategies to cope and have a toolkit, I am in touch with Alcoholics Anonymous group and now have a routine and structure to my life.”
People said this was the best rehabilitation service they had been to and would recommend it, they said it was more relaxed and homely than previous services they had been to.
People told us that there were not enough staff which meant they got bored and frustrated.
Updated
4 October 2021
Our rating of this service improved. We rated it as good because:
The service provided safe care. The premises were safe and clean. Staff assessed and managed risk well and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the clients and in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audit to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
Managers ensured staff received training and supervision. Staff worked well together as a team and with relevant services outside the organisation.
Staff treated clients with compassion and kindness and understood the individual needs of clients. They actively involved clients in decisions and care planning.
The service was easy to access. Staff planned and managed discharge well and had alternative pathways for people whose needs it could not meet.
The service was well led, and the governance processes ensured that its procedures ran smoothly.
However:
The service did not have enough staff although this was covered by staff working extra hours and the vacant post had been advertised.
Staff were overdue their annual appraisals although this was arranged for September.
Clients did not know about the ‘recovery phone’ they could take when going out unescorted by staff to ensure their safety.
Records did not show that regular house meetings were held to gain the views of clients and staff.
Residential substance misuse services
Updated
4 October 2021
Our rating of this service improved. We rated it as good because:
The service provided safe care. The premises were safe and clean. Staff assessed and managed risk well and followed good practice with respect to safeguarding.
Staff developed holistic, recovery-oriented care plans informed by a comprehensive assessment. They provided a range of treatments suitable to the needs of the clients and in line with national guidance about best practice. Staff engaged in clinical audit to evaluate the quality of care they provided.
Managers ensured staff received training and supervision. Staff worked well together as a team and with relevant services outside the organisation.
Staff treated clients with compassion and kindness and understood the individual needs of clients. They actively involved clients in decisions and care planning.
The service was easy to access. Staff planned and managed discharge well and had alternative pathways for people whose needs it could not meet.
The service was well led, and the governance processes ensured that its procedures ran smoothly.
However:
The service did not have enough staff although this was covered by staff working extra hours and the vacant post had been advertised.
Staff were overdue their annual appraisals although this was arranged for September.
Clients did not know about the ‘recovery phone’ they could take when going out unescorted by staff to ensure their safety.
Records did not show that regular house meetings were held to gain the views of clients and staff.