Forest Dene Residential Care Home

Updated 4 February 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC's response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 27 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection.

Updated 4 February 2022

We inspected Forest Dene Residential Care Home on 31 October 2018. The visit was unannounced, which meant that the service did not know we were visiting. Forest Dene Residential Care Home 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 home is registered to provide support to a maximum of 40 people. At the time of the inspection there were 38 people using the service.

At the last inspection in June 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

There was a registered manager in post who was available throughout the inspection. 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.

Although people and relatives told us they felt there were enough staff, we found that some people did not receive appropriate care during breakfast time. We recommend that the registered manager reviews their staffing level to ensure that there are enough staff to cover for the disruption caused by the works going at the service.

People were supported by staff who were caring, kind, and respectful to their needs. Staff ensured people had choices of care and support whilst ensuring their privacy and dignity.

The staff recruitment processes were safe. New staff were appropriately checked before they started work at the service.

Staff received support, supervision and training to ensure they were effective in their roles.

Pre-admission assessments were completed for people before they were admitted. This ensured that people were admitted only if the service was appropriate to their needs.

Each person had a risk assessment, which identified possible risks and how to manage them.

Care plans were person-centred. Each person had a care plan, which identified their needs and how they should be supported.

People were protected from the risk of abuse because there was an adult safeguarding policy, and staff had appropriate training.

The service supported people to make their own decisions and worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

Staff encouraged and supported people to make their own decisions about their care. The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the MCA and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

The management of medicines was safe. There were systems in place to store, administer, record and audit medicines

People were satisfied with the food provided at the service. People's nutritional needs were well managed and people received diets appropriate to their needs.

Staff worked in partnership with other professionals to ensure people had access to health care service.

People were supported to participate in social activities and events provided inside and outside the service.

The service had a complaints procedure and people were confident that their concerns could be investigated and resolved by the registered manager.

The service had end of life care policy, which ensured people's preferences, wishes and needs were respected when they were dying.

There was a clear management structure which ensured various aspects of the service were audited, feedback was sought and improvements were made to the service.