Ferndale Mews

Updated 8 October 2019

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 team consisted of one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Ferndale Mews 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. At the time of the inspection the home was being managed by the deputy manager. A new manager had recently been appointed, following the sudden resignation and departure of the registered manager in July 2019.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the deputy manager, care workers, activity coordinator and the area director. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at records in relation to staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 8 October 2019

About the service

Ferndale Mews is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to 30 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 34 people.

Ferndale Mews accommodates people living with dementia across two separate floors, each of which has separate adapted facilities. One floor specialises in providing care to people living with dementia who require nursing care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We received positive feedback about the quality of care and support people received and the overall management of the service from people and their relatives.

People received support from staff who had received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role safely, including the management of medicines. There were enough staff to support people when they needed it.

There was a stable staff team who were knowledgeable about the people living at the service and had built trusting and meaningful relationships with them. When needed regular agency staff were used so staff were familiar with people’s needs.

People and their family members told us that the service was safe. Risks to people and others were identified and measures put in place to minimise harm. Staff knew people's identified needs and risks well and were able to support people.

Staff encouraged people to eat a well-balanced diet and make healthy eating choices. People were supported to access healthcare services; staff recognised changes in people's health and sought professional advice appropriately.

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.

A variety of activities were organised each day for people living at Ferndale Mews, which included trips out.

There was a clearly defined management structure and regular oversight and input from the senior managers. People were positive about the management of the service and told us the deputy manager was very supportive and approachable. Any concerns or worries were listened to, addressed and used as opportunities to make continuous improvements to the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 11/03/2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.