Fernleigh House is a care home providing accommodation and personal care and support for up to six adults who have severe learning disabilities, complex behavioural needs and communication difficulties. Fernleigh House is a detached modern house decorated and furnished in a contemporary style. There are two lounges, two dining rooms, an arts and crafts area and sensory room. All the bedrooms are single and four have en-suite facilities. There is a large garden which is equipped with recreational facilities.At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
People were safe using the services of Fernleigh House. Recruitment practices and safeguarding policies helped to protect people from harm. Detailed assessments provided good guidance for staff about how health care risks could be minimised and we found medicines were being, in general well managed. This helped to ensure people were kept safe. However, we made a recommendation about hand written entries on the Medication Administration Records (MARs) being signed, witnessed and countersigned, to ensure transcription errors were minimised.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems of the service supported this practice.
Personal development for staff was an important aspect of the organisations ethos. This was supported by detailed induction programmes, regular supervisions, annual appraisals and a varied training schedule for all those who were employed. This helped to ensure the staff team was knowledgeable, competent and confident to deliver the care and support people needed.
Staff members were kind and caring towards those who used the service. People’s privacy, dignity and independence were consistently promoted. The staff team had received training in relation to equality and diversity. This helped to ensure that everyone was treated equally and were afforded the same opportunities.
Complaints were being well managed and people were offered appropriate choices at all times. The plans of care were person centred; providing staff with clear guidance about people’s assessed needs and how these needs were to be best met. This helped to ensure people received the care and support relevant to their individual health and social care needs.
Regular audits, surveys and risk assessments had been conducted, so the quality of service could be closely monitored. This helped to ensure people were receiving the care and support they required. Meetings for staff and service users were held at regular intervals. This enabled people to be involved in decisions about how the service was run.