The Firs Residential Care Home

Ratings

• Overall

  Good

• Safe

  Good

• Effective

  Good

• Caring

  Good

• Responsive

  Good

• Well-led

  Good

Our view of the service

This assessment was carried out to see if improvement had been made since the last inspection where the service was put into special measures. We inspected all quality statements across all key questions. Improvements had been made and the service was no longer in breach of any regulations. However, time is needed to be assured improvements had been fully embedded and sustained. The quality monitoring of the service had mostly improved. Environmental and fire safety improvements had been made. However, 3 unsafe window restrictors were found. Staff now understood the importance of learning from incidents and safeguarding's and actions were taken to reduce risks. People had appropriate assessments, monitoring, and risk reducing measures in place. Cleanliness had improved, but damaged surfaces restricted staffs’ ability to ensure good infection prevention and control. The right skill mixes of staff worked each shift. Pre-employment checks were completed for staff. Not all staff told us they had received a full induction when employed. Staff had information to follow when people were discharged from hospital back to the service. This included health professional input to support continuity of care. Most care records were now person-centred and recorded who participated in the setting up and reviews. Where people had Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) authorisations in place, staff monitored these. People were supported with safe medicines management. People enjoyed the menu choices on offer. Activities were held to occupy people’s time. Staff treated people with kindness and maintained people's dignity and independence. Records had improved; however, some needed more detail, including safeguarding, and complaints logs to enable oversight of trends. People and their relatives fed back on the service. However, where people were helped to complete feedback, the name of the staff member or relative should be recorded to enable more transparency.

People's experience of this service

We spoke with 4 people and 2 relatives. Relatives were happy with the improvements made since the last inspection. They felt their family member was safe and were confident to raise queries or concerns and felt listened to. People were now supported with person-centred care by a consistent staff team that knew them well. There were enough skilled staff to support people’s care and support requirements. People told us they did not wait long for staff assistance. People and / or their representatives, participated in the setting up, and reviews of care and support needs. People were supported by staff to access external health professionals to promote and maintain their well-being. People who were supported by staff with their medicines, had no concerns. Relatives told us the food had improved and people were seen enjoying the menu choices. Relative feedback included that since the last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection staff were friendlier and communication had improved. However, not all relatives were aware of the relatives’ meetings held now at the service or surveys to feedback their views.