CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Fairlawn
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable recruitment checks, reviewed risk assessments, safe medicines arrangements and infection control measures.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not looked at during this focused inspection. Its rating came from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not looked at during this focused inspection. Its rating came from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not looked at during this focused inspection. Its rating came from the previous comprehensive inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Inspectors found robust quality checks, clear management responsibilities, positive staff morale and good communication with people, relatives and professionals.
What inspectors found, January 2021
Fairlawn was rated Good; inspectors found improved staffing, safe care and strong management systems.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 4 January 2021. Two inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives and staff. They observed the home and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff on duty, safer recruitment checks, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines systems and infection control measures. People and relatives said they felt safe.
The home had improved since the previous inspection, which was rated Requires Improvement and found a breach about staffing. The staffing improvements had been maintained and the home was no longer in breach. The overall Good rating also used ratings from the earlier inspection for areas not looked at this time.
Improved staffing
Inspectors found enough staff on duty and said improvements to monitoring staffing levels had been sustained. Recruitment and retention work had also improved.
“There was enough staff on duty. Improvements had been made to continually monitor staffing levels.” from the report
Safe care systems
Risk assessments gave staff clear instructions, and records showed care was delivered in line with people's individual risk plans.
“Records showed that care was delivered in line with people's individual risk plans, this meant the risks to people were reduced.” from the report
Strong oversight
The home used audits, checks and reviews to monitor care and make improvements.
“Quality assurance systems in place were robust to monitor the standard of care provided.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that measures were in place to prevent and manage infections, including the safe use of protective equipment.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Positive relationships
People, relatives and staff were kept updated. Staff described the culture as friendly and supportive.
“People, their relatives and staff were kept updated regularly by the management of the home.” from the report
Manager registration
minorThe home did not have a manager registered with the CQC at the time of inspection. An application had been made for the new manager to become registered.
“Fairlawn did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission.” from the report
- 01What is the current position on the manager's application to become registered with the CQC?
- 02How do you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient at busy times and overnight?
- 03What have you learned from accidents and incidents, and what changes have you made as a result?
- 04How will you keep families updated about visiting arrangements and other changes?
- 05What were the ratings and findings for Effective, Caring and Responsive at the previous comprehensive inspection?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led, including infection control; the other key question ratings were carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 January 2021 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, September 2019
Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but staffing levels were not always enough to keep people's needs met promptly.
This was an unannounced inspection on 29 and 30 July 2019. Inspectors spoke with people, relatives, staff and a health professional. They observed care and reviewed care, medicines, staffing and management records.
The home was rated Good for Effective, Caring and Responsive. People were described as safe, happy and well cared for. Staff were kind, trained and understood people's needs. Medicines, risk assessments and complaints systems had improved.
The overall rating was Requires Improvement because staffing was not always arranged safely. There were fewer staff on duty than the home's dependency tool said were needed. The home was still in breach of the staffing regulation. Well-led was also Requires Improvement, although improvements had been made since the previous inspection.
Kind and respectful care
People, relatives and professionals said staff were caring and friendly. Inspectors saw staff respecting privacy and supporting people to make choices.
“People, professionals and relatives told us staff were kind and caring.” from the report
Medicines managed safely
Medicines were stored securely, records were audited and staff had training and competency checks. This was an improvement from the previous inspection.
“The service had implemented safe systems and processes that meant people received their medicines in line with best practice.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's preferences and desired outcomes. Staff used this information to provide individual support and promote independence.
“Plans were personalised and relevant to the person.” from the report
Improved management visibility
Management changes had led to more visible leadership and better teamwork. People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the management team.
“Leadership was more visible and promoted good teamwork.” from the report
Not enough staff at some times
seriousStaffing did not always meet the home's own dependency assessment. Inspectors observed staff shortages on both floors, creating a risk that people had to wait for care.
“There were fewer staff on duty than the tool suggested and we could not be sure that people's needs were being met in a timely manner.” from the report
Care information not always transferred promptly
needs fixingOne new person's communication needs were recorded in the pre-admission assessment but were not initially included in the care plan. This was corrected during the inspection.
“One person who had recently moved into the home had communication needs identified in their pre-admission needs assessment, but these had not been transferred into their care plan.” from the report
Feedback record misplaced
minorThe latest questionnaire results had been lost during management changes. The manager said another questionnaire would be sent out.
“The results of the most recent questionnaire had been misplaced during the change in managers.” from the report
- 01How many care staff are scheduled on each floor during mornings, afternoons, evenings and breaks?
- 02How do you make sure staffing matches the dependency tool when people need two staff for personal care?
- 03What action has been taken since the inspection to prevent people waiting for help when staffing is short?
- 04How are new residents' communication needs transferred from their assessment into their care plan?
- 05What is the current position on the staffing action plan and the regulator's monitoring?
This was an unannounced, planned comprehensive inspection based on the previous rating and covered all five CQC questions, including the premises and care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 10 September 2019 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Fairlawn
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- January 2021Goodcurrent ratingup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2019Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- February 2019Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 November 2010.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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