CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Farthings Nursing Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, May 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found enough staff, good infection control and strong management during this targeted visit.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 14 April 2021. One inspector spoke with a person living at the home, a relative, three staff members and the manager. Records, care plans, medicines procedures, infection control and quality checks were also reviewed.
The visit followed concerns about staffing, infection control, behaviour support, nutrition, staff training and quality checks. Inspectors found no evidence that people were at risk of harm. They found enough staff, effective use of protective equipment, detailed plans for nutrition and hydration, and regular management audits.
This was a targeted inspection, so the home was inspected but not rated. It did not change the previous overall rating of Good, published in November 2017. The inspectors only checked specific parts of Safe, Effective and Well-led, rather than the whole service.
Staffing
Inspectors found that staffing levels and staff deployment met people's needs promptly. The home had not needed to use agency staff.
“The provider ensured good levels and deployment of staff consistently met each person's needs in a timely way.” from the report
Infection control
The home was clean and bright, had enough protective equipment, and inspectors were assured about its infection prevention arrangements.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Management oversight
The management team used regular audits to monitor safety and quality. Staff understood their roles and people and relatives spoke positively about the management.
“The registered manager regularly completed a variety of audits to oversee quality assurance and maintain everyone's safety.” from the report
Nutrition support
Care plans and risk assessments addressed malnutrition and dehydration. People were offered different meals and described enjoying their food.
“The registered manager created detailed care plans and risk assessments to guide staff to mitigate the risk of malnutrition and dehydration.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01What staffing levels are currently in place, and how are shifts covered when staff are absent?
- 02How are people's risks of malnutrition and dehydration assessed and reviewed?
- 03What training do staff currently receive, and how do you check that they have the right skills?
- 04How are protective equipment, testing, visiting arrangements and infection control managed now?
- 05What is the current registration position of the new manager with CQC?
This was a targeted inspection of specific concerns within Safe, Effective and Well-led, including infection control; it did not assess the whole service or provide new ratings for every key question. This explanation was written from the published report of 1 May 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, November 2017
Farthings Nursing Home was rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe and personalised care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection on 17 October 2017. Inspectors observed care, spoke with people living at the home, relatives, visitors, staff and healthcare professionals, and checked care, medicine, staffing and building records.
The inspectors found that people were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff understood people's needs and provided personalised support. The home had suitable staffing, safe medicine systems, relevant risk assessments and a clean, well-maintained environment.
People had choices about food and care. Their health, nutrition and hydration needs were monitored. Activities included group and one-to-one sessions, and people could raise complaints. The home had a registered manager, regular audits and meetings to monitor the service.
The overall rating was Good, and each of the five questions was also rated Good. The report says the home had remained Good since the previous inspection.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff being kind, patient and attentive. People said staff respected their dignity and treated them as individuals.
“We observed staff providing support to people throughout our inspection visit. We saw they were kind and patient and treated people with dignity and respect.” from the report
Safe medicines and staffing
Medicines were ordered, stored, administered and recorded safely. Staffing levels were monitored and increased when people's needs became greater.
“During our inspection visit staffing levels were observed to be sufficient to meet the needs of people who lived at the home.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans covered people's needs, preferences, activities and communication. People were involved in decisions and encouraged to remain independent.
“Care plans seen confirmed the service promoted people's independence and involved them in decision making about their care.” from the report
Good support with food and health
People received choices of meals, snacks and drinks. Inspectors found that specialist dietary needs and healthcare needs were being addressed.
“The support we saw provided was organised and well managed. The atmosphere throughout lunch was relaxed and unhurried with people being given sufficient time to enjoy their meal.” from the report
Activities and end-of-life care
The home offered group and one-to-one activities. People's end-of-life wishes were recorded, and some people were supported to remain at the home.
“People who lived at the home and their visitors told us they enjoyed a variety of activities which were organised for their entertainment.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and update my relative's care plan, including their mobility, nutrition, communication and personal preferences?
- 02How do you make sure staffing levels remain sufficient if residents' needs increase?
- 03How will you support my relative's medicines safely, including recording each dose after it is given?
- 04What activities and one-to-one sessions would be available if my relative preferred to stay in their room or needed nursing care?
- 05How would you record and follow my relative's end-of-life wishes?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and the overall quality of the service. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 November 2017 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 Farthings Nursing Home
2 rated inspections over 2 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- May 2021Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not ratedEffective: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Inspected but not rated
- November 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- November 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 7 February 2011.
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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32 live-in carers within about an hour of Blackpool
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 £980 to £1,250 a week. 31 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Thanks to Tracy, Dad was always immaculately dressed and clean, his meals were all home cooked and nutritionally well balanced and his home was always kept really clean and tidy.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during the night.”
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.