The Fleet

Updated 28 April 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team was made up of one inspector.

Service and service type

The Fleet is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Fleet is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. However, the service had a manager who was in the process of applying to be the registered manager with the Care Quality Commission. This means that once registered, they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. This included statutory notifications we had received. Statutory notifications are events, changes or incidents the provider is legally required to tell us about within required timescales. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We looked at four people’s care records to see how their care was planned and delivered. Other records we reviewed included three staff recruitment files, staff competency checks, staff training records, accident and incident records, safeguarding, complaints and complements, management of medicines and the provider audits, quality assurance and overview of information about the service.

We spoke with three people living at the service and five relatives. We spoke with seven members of staff which included nursing and care staff, housekeeping staff the clinical lead and manager.

After the inspection

We looked at records the manager sent us to validate evidence we found.

Updated 28 April 2022

About the service

The Fleet is a residential care home that provides personal and nursing care for older people. The Fleet is registered to accommodate 39 people, at the time of the inspection 37 people lived at the service.

The Fleet provides accommodation across two floors. The ground floor accommodates people who require residential care. The first floor accommodates people who need nursing care which is provided by the service.

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

Staff had received training in recognising safeguarding, and knew the actions to take to protect people from harm. There were recruitment processes in place and checks were carried out before staff were appointed.

People’s medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicine’s as prescribed. Staff followed infection control guidance and had access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

People received person-centred care based on their individual needs, choices and preferences. Staff who supported them were aware of their individual preferences and were knowledgeable about people’s needs and how these should be met.

People’s needs and choices were assessed, and their care was reviewed regularly. Care records identified people’s individual risk and how these should be managed to reduce the risk of harm.

People confirmed they were well cared for by staff that had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and felt well trained. Staff communicated with other health and social care providers to ensure people’s health and care needs were met.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff felt supported in their role and felt confident any concerns they raised would be acted on promptly. The provider had a complaints process in place to manage and respond to any concerns or complaints they may receive.

People were supported to maintain relationships with their families.

Regular audits were completed by the management team to check the safety and quality of the service delivered. This included competency checks of staff practice.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 7 September 2021) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Fleet on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Responsive and Well-led which contain those requirements.

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.