CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Fairlight Manor
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, July 2023
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind and supportive care but gaps in risk assessments, medicines storage and management oversight.
This was an unannounced inspection. Inspectors visited the home and spoke with 11 people, 5 relatives, staff and a health professional. They also reviewed care records, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The home was not always safe. A stair gate was missing at the top of a first-floor staircase, although this was fixed during the inspection. Risk assessments did not always give staff enough guidance about falls, diabetes, blood-thinning medicines and flammable creams. Some medicines were stored in cupboards that reached 30 degrees, above the stated limit of 25 degrees.
Inspectors also found that quality checks had not picked up these problems. The registered manager did not notify the CQC about some events within the required time, including a lift fault and completed DoLS authorisations. These findings led to breaches of Regulations 12 and 17.
The overall rating changed from Good at the previous inspection in 2017 to Requires Improvement. Only Safe and Well-led were inspected at this visit. The other key question ratings used for the overall rating were carried over from the previous inspection.
Enough trained staff
People and relatives said staffing levels were suitable. Staff were recruited with checks, received induction training and had competency checks.
“There are enough staff here. I don't wait long if I need something.” from the report
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe, and staff knew how to recognise and report abuse.
“People told us they felt safe at Fairlight Manor.” from the report
Links with health professionals
The home arranged outside healthcare support when needed and worked with professionals such as community nurses and speech and language therapists.
“We call for help when we can't manage something, like we are always talking to community nurses speech and language therapists (SaLT).” from the report
Medicines storage
seriousMedicine cupboards were not always kept within the home's stated temperature limit. One cupboard was recorded at 30 degrees when the limit was 25 degrees.
“Medicines were not being stored according to the provider's policy and procedures or according to the manufacturer's recommendations.” from the report
Weak management checks
seriousAudits had not found the problems with risk assessments, the environment or medicines. The registered manager also missed required CQC notifications.
“Systems had not been established to mitigate risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service.” from the report
- 01What has been done to make sure all stair gates and other environmental safety measures are now in place?
- 02How have risk assessments been updated for people who are at risk of falls, take blood-thinning medicines, have diabetes or use flammable creams?
- 03How are medicine cupboard temperatures now checked, including in the afternoon, and what happens if a cupboard is above 25 degrees?
- 04What changes have been made to audits so they identify safety problems before they put people at risk?
- 05How will the home make sure incidents and DoLS authorisations are notified to the CQC within the required time?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led; the other key question ratings used in the overall rating were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 July 2023 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, January 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were safe.
This was a targeted, announced inspection in response to a COVID-19 outbreak. Inspectors looked specifically at infection prevention and control, rather than carrying out a full inspection of the home.
The outbreak had ended by the visit, and the home was no longer closed to visitors. People who could not understand the need to isolate because of dementia had access to a designated communal space, rather than being restricted to their bedrooms.
Inspectors were assured about visitor arrangements, social distancing, admissions, personal protective equipment, testing, cleanliness and the management of outbreaks. The service was inspected but not rated, so this report does not give a full overall quality rating.
Visitor safety
Visits were pre-booked and held in a separate room with distancing measures. Visitors had temperature checks and were asked to wear face masks.
“Visits to the home were pre-booked. Visitors had their temperatures taken on arrival and were asked to wear face masks during the visit.” from the report
Supporting people with dementia
People who could not understand the need to self-isolate were given a designated communal space, helping them move around safely without being restricted to their bedrooms.
“A designated space in a communal area was allocated to these people in order to support safe movement around the home without restricting people.” from the report
PPE arrangements
Staff used PPE in line with government guidance. PPE was stored in people's bedrooms and there were pedal bins for safe disposal.
“Staff were wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in line with government guidance.” from the report
Infection control environment
Renovations included hard bedroom flooring and wipe-clean blinds to support infection control.
“These changes to the environment focused on improving infection control around the home.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What are the home's current arrangements for visits and infection control?
- 02How are people living with dementia supported if they do not understand the need to isolate?
- 03How does the home make sure staff have enough PPE and use it correctly?
- 04What were the findings of the home's last full inspection in areas not covered by this report?
- 05Has anything changed since the COVID-19 outbreak and this inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control during a COVID-19 outbreak; the service was inspected but not rated and the other key questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 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.
Every inspection of Fairlight Manor
3 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- July 2023Requires improvementcurrent ratingSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- December 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 December 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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19 live-in carers within about an hour of East Sussex
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £1,000 to £1,400 a week. 13 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“When he point blank refused to go into hospital for a life saving blood transfusion she talked him through the situation and agreed to go in the ambulance with him and stayed until he was settled.”
“Una felt safe, secure and loved in her time with Debbie which is a gift that I am eternally grateful for.”
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.