Fenwick

Updated 4 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

Fenwick is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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 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 reviewed the last inspection report which was under a different provider along with notifications received. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and two care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality monitoring documents. We also spoke with one relative who was visiting their family member. We were unable to speak with people using the service as they were unable to communicate with us, but we observed their interactions with care workers.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with another relative and one professional over the telephone.

Updated 4 February 2020

About the service

Fenwick is a residential care home, supporting up to three people with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service. The home is a three- bedroom residential property with a lounge, kitchen and dining area as well as a garden.

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

The provider had appropriate systems in place to identify risks to people’s health, safety as well as their risk of experiencing abuse. There were enough staff working at the service and all had been appropriately vetted before working with people. The provider supported people effectively with their medicines and staff received annual training, but their competencies were not checked every year. We have made a recommendation about the completion of medicines competency assessments. The provider maintained good levels of hygiene within the home and had appropriate systems in place to deal with accidents and incidents.

The provider was not always following best practice guidance as they were not conducting annual medicines competency assessments. The provider gave staff the support they needed to do their roles and supported people with their health and nutritional needs, working with external professionals as needed. The home was appropriately designed and decorated to meet people’s needs.

People’s relatives gave good feedback about the care workers and told us their family members were well treated. People were supported to express their views and were supported with their religious needs. The provider respected people’s privacy and dignity and supported people to be as independent as possible.

People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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.

The provider planned people’s care to ensure their needs and preferences were met. The provider supported people to communicate their needs and had clear communication care plans in place. They were meeting the requirements of the Accessible Information Standards (AIS) and were able to provide information to people in different formats when needed. People were supported to participate in a varied activities programme of their own choosing. There were clear complaints and end of life care policies and procedures in place to guide staff if needed.

People’s relatives told us the service delivered high quality care and they were asked for their feedback. Staff told us the registered manager was supportive. She and other staff understood their responsibilities and the quality of the service was monitored effectively.

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 10 January 2019 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on when the service registered with us.

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.