CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Ferndale Lodge
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, detailed risk assessments, safe premises and safely managed medicines. Staff understood safeguarding and how to report concerns, although one employment reference had not been followed up appropriately.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had induction, training and appraisals, and people received support with food, drink and healthcare. Some planned staff supervision meetings had not taken place or been rebooked, so this area fell from Outstanding to Good.
- Caring?
- Good
- Inspectors saw positive relationships between staff and people. Staff respected privacy, dignity, choices, cultural needs and independence, and relatives said people were happy and well cared for.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans were detailed and personalised, and people were supported with activities, relationships, communication and emotional needs. End of life wishes were not recorded in enough detail.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was visible and approachable, and quality checks, staff meetings and feedback systems were in place. One relative felt communication between staff could be improved.
What inspectors found, June 2018
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, but the effective rating fell from Outstanding and some staff records needed improvement.
This was an unannounced, comprehensive inspection on 24 April 2018. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff, a healthcare professional and the manager. They reviewed care records, staff files and management records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines systems, detailed risk assessments, kind relationships and personalised care. People were supported with their health, food, activities, independence and communication.
There were some shortfalls. Two staff members had missed planned supervision meetings, one employment reference had not been properly checked, and care plans had limited information about end of life wishes. The manager also needed to improve understanding of the Accessible Information Standard.
The overall Good rating stayed the same as at the previous inspection. However, Effective fell from Outstanding to Good. Inspectors found no serious risks or concerns and asked the manager to address the issues identified.
Safe care
Risks were assessed clearly and staff knew how to manage them. Inspectors also found the home clean and tidy, with enough staff and safe medicine systems.
“Risk assessments were detailed and contained clear directions for staff to ensure risk was well managed.” from the report
Kind relationships
Staff appeared to know people well and treated them with warmth and respect. People’s privacy, dignity, choices and independence were supported.
“Positive relationships between staff and people who lived at Ferndale Lodge were evident.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people’s preferences, communication needs and ways of being supported. People helped choose activities and were supported to maintain important relationships.
“There was clear evidence of person-centred care.” from the report
Good leadership systems
The manager was visible and enthusiastic. Inspectors found regular audits, staff meetings and feedback systems, with action taken when issues were found.
“Systems and processes for ensuring the quality of the service were securely and effectively in place.” from the report
Missed staff supervision
needs fixingTwo staff members had missed planned supervision meetings. Some meetings had not been rebooked, which was not in line with the organisation’s policy.
“We saw two scheduled supervisions had not been held with one staff member and three scheduled supervisions had not been held or rebooked with another staff member in an 11 month period.” from the report
Recruitment check
needs fixingOne employment reference had not been reviewed and followed up properly. The manager said this would be reviewed.
“In one recruitment file we found information provided in an employment reference had not been followed up appropriately.” from the report
End of life planning
needs fixingCare plans contained limited information about people’s person-centred end of life wishes. The manager said respectful discussions would be arranged and recorded.
“We found care plans contained limited information regarding person centred end of life wishes.” from the report
Information sharing
minorOne relative felt that not all information was passed between staff. This may be worth checking with the home, particularly where a person has complex needs.
“However one relative stated communication between staff could be improved as they felt not all information was passed on.” from the report
Accessible information guidance
minorThe manager was not familiar with the Accessible Information Standard, although inspectors found that its principles were being followed in care plans.
“The registered manager stated they were not familiar with the AIS, however, we found the principles of the standard were followed within people's care plans.” from the report
- 01Have all missed staff supervision meetings now taken place, and how are future meetings monitored?
- 02How do you now check employment references before staff start work?
- 03How are people’s end of life wishes discussed, agreed and recorded?
- 04How do you make sure important information is passed between staff at every handover?
- 05How do you make information accessible for people with communication or sensory needs?
This was an unannounced comprehensive inspection covering all five key questions and reviewing three care records, three staff files and other management records. This explanation was written from the published report of 29 June 2018 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 Ferndale Lodge
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- June 2018Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 April 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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At least 100 live-in carers within about an hour of Kirklees
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 £1,260 a week. 86 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
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“Primrose is a very kind and compassionate healthcare professional”
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