We carried out a review of the data available to us about Forest Haven on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Forest Haven, you can give feedback on this service.
About the service
Forest Haven is a 'care home' for people who have a learning disability. The service accommodates a maximum of 5 people. At the time of our inspection, there were 4 people living in the home. People using the service had been living at the home for many years. Most of the staff team had also been working at the home for some time and everyone knew each other well.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support:
There were suitable amount of trained staff working at the service to meet people's individual needs. The provider carried out employment checks to ensure that staff were recruited safely and had the right skill mix to support people who lived at the home.
The service took measures to help prevent the spread of infections. Medicines were managed in a person centred and safe way and staff ensured that people received regular medicines reviews by their health professionals. People who used the service 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.
Right Care:
People spoke positively about the service and told us that they were treated with kindness and their privacy was respected by staff. Relatives were very complimentary about the service. They told us that they felt the service supported their love one’s to express their views and they were involved in making decisions about their support with help from their families. People's support plans and risk assessments were well detailed and written in a person-centred.
Right Culture:
The service carried out a range of audits to ensure a good quality service was provided. Staff understood people's needs well. This enabled people to receive a good service, which empowered people and the care was tailored to their individual support needs.
The staff turnover at the service was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
We last inspected this service in May 2018 where it was rated 'good' overall.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Forest Haven on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
Forest Haven 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.
Forest haven can accommodate up to five people. At the time of our inspection four people were living in the home. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
There was a registered manager in post. 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.
The service was safe and people were protected from harm. Support workers were knowledgeable about safeguarding adults from abuse and what to do if they had any concerns and how to report them. Safeguarding training was given to all staff.
Risk assessments were thorough and personalised. Support workers knew what to do in an emergency situation.
Staffing levels were meeting the needs of the people who used the service and support workers demonstrated they had the relevant knowledge to support people with their care.
Recruitment practices were safe and records confirmed this.
Medicines were managed and administered safely and audited on a weekly basis.
Newly recruited support workers received an induction and shadowed more experienced members of staff. Training for support workers was provided on a regular basis and updated when relevant. Support workers told us the quality of training was good.
Support workers demonstrated an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and how they obtained consent from people on a daily basis. Consent was recorded in people's care plans.
People were supported with maintaining a balanced diet and the people who used the service chose their meals and these were provided in line with their preferences.
People were supported to have access to healthcare services and receive on-going support. Referrals to healthcare professionals were made appropriately and a multi-disciplinary approach was adopted to support people.
Positive relationships were formed between support workers and the people who used the service and staff demonstrated how they knew the people they cared for well. People who used the service and their relatives told us support workers were caring and treated them with respect.
Care plans were detailed and contained relevant information about people who used the service and their needs such as their preferences and communication needs.
Concerns and complaints were listened to and records confirmed this.
People who used the service, their relatives and support workers spoke highly of the registered manager and told us they felt supported by them.
Quality assurance practices were robust and taking place regularly.
Forest Haven is a care home providing accommodation and support with personal care for people with learning disabilities. The home is registered for five people. At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care and support to four people.
There was not a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. The manager in place at the time of our visit was still in the process of completing registration with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
The provider had systems in place to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff understood how to keep people safe and knew the people they were supporting very well. People’s finances were managed and audited regularly by staff. People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.
There were enough staff to keep people safe. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place to make sure suitable staff worked with people who used the service. Staff were skilled and experienced to meet people’s needs because they received appropriate training, supervision and appraisal. The service met the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty safeguards.
Care was personalised and delivered to a good standard. People received good support to make sure their nutritional and health needs were appropriately met. People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned and delivered in line with their individual care needs.
The service had good management and leadership. The provider had a system to monitor and assess the quality of service provision. Safety checks were carried out around the service and any safety issues were reported and dealt with promptly.
People's needs were assessed prior to starting the service, support plans helped to enhance people's lives through promoting independence. Additional capacity was available through an autism practitioner and this was helping to support staff as they developed a range of different ways to communicate with people based on individual needs.
People were protected from the risk of abuse and neglect and the service had taken appropriate action to minimise risk to people. Systems were in place to assess and monitor the quality of care, but managers had not recieved any feedback from questionnaires sent to stakeholders, people or family carers. The provider might like to note the need to ensure they actively obtain feedback and that arrangements were more coherent and robust, so there was a clearer ongoing picture of performance, quality and service improvement.