Field House is a care home which is registered to provide care for up to 36 people. The home specialises in the care of older people but does not provide nursing care. There is a registered manager who is responsible for the home. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run
On the day of the inspection there was a calm and relaxed atmosphere in the home and we saw staff interacted with people in a friendly and respectful way. People were encouraged and supported to maintain their independence. They made choices about their day to day lives which were respected by staff.
People said the home was a safe place for them to live. One person said “I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I have never been mistreated since I have lived here and I have never seen anyone else treated badly. I would certainly speak up if I had, you can be sure of that.” One visitor said “It was such a relief knowing that (my relative) was being well cared for in a safe environment when before she was so far away and having falls.” Staff had received training in how to recognise and report abuse. All were clear about how to report any concerns. Staff spoken with were confident that any allegations made would be fully investigated to ensure people were protected.
People said they would not hesitate in speaking with staff if they had any concerns. People knew how to make a formal complaint if they needed to but felt that issues would usually be resolved informally. One person said “I did have one issue but the manager sorted this out immediately.”
People were well cared for and were involved in planning and reviewing their care. There were regular reviews of people’s health and staff responded promptly to changes in need. People were assisted to attend appointments with appropriate health and social care professionals to ensure they received treatment and support for their specific needs.
Staff had good knowledge of people including their needs and preferences. Staff were well trained; there were good opportunities for on-going training and for obtaining additional qualifications. Some staff members had lead roles such as end of life care and dementia care so they were able to guide staff practice in these areas. Comments about staff included “They know how to care for me. If you ask them to do anything for you they will do it” and “The carers are wonderful they will do anything.”
People’s privacy was respected. Staff ensured people kept in touch with family and friends. Each visitor we spoke with told us they were always made welcome and were able to visit at any time. People were able to see their visitors in communal areas or in private. One visitor said “The staff are so supportive and we are able to visit whenever we want to.”
People were provided with a variety of activities and trips. People could choose to take part if they wished. One person said “There’s lots going on. We have film shows, bingo, games and exercises. We do flower arranging and a lady comes in to help us with sewing. You join in if you want to; you don’t have to.” Staff at the home had been able to build strong links with the local community.
There was a management structure in the home which provided clear lines of responsibility and accountability. The registered manager showed a great enthusiasm in wanting to provide the best level of care possible. Staff had clearly adopted the same ethos and enthusiasm and this showed in the way they cared for people.
There were effective quality assurance processes in place to monitor care and plan ongoing improvements. There were systems in place to share information and seek people’s views about the running of the home. People’s views were acted upon where possible and practical. In addition to the resident’s committee and the ‘Friends of Field House’, the service gained feedback from ‘themed conversations’ with people, stakeholder surveys, complaints and compliments to continually develop the service.