CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Fernside
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from avoidable harm. Risks were reviewed, staffing was consistent, medicines were managed by trained staff, and infection control arrangements were in place.
- Effective?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This area was not inspected during this focused visit. Its previous rating was carried forward when calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home was consistently managed and had an open, supportive culture. Audits, feedback and partnership working were used to monitor and improve care.
What inspectors found, November 2023
Rated Good; inspectors found people were safe and well supported, with strong management and consistent staff.
The home supports up to four adults aged 18 to 65 with complex medical, physical and learning needs. Four people were living there during the inspection.
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led. The inspector visited on 17 and 19 October 2023, spoke with all four people, contacted relatives, staff and health professionals, and reviewed care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
Inspectors found people appeared happy, calm and safe. Risks were assessed, medicines were given by trained staff, infection controls were in place, and staff knew people well. The home was open and supportive, and management used audits and feedback to improve care.
The overall rating remained Good. The ratings for Safe and Well-led were Good. The other three areas were not inspected during this visit, so their previous ratings were used for the overall rating.
People felt safe and settled
People looked happy and calm with staff. Relatives and health professionals also said people were safe and well cared for.
“People looked happy, calm and content in staff company.” from the report
Staff knew people well
A familiar and consistent staff group understood people's individual communication needs and supported them to make choices.
“A familiar and consistent group of care staff meant they knew people well.” from the report
Risks were managed without being overly restrictive
The home assessed risks such as falls, choking, moving and going out. Positive risk-taking was encouraged.
“People's individual risks were known and well managed without being unduly restrictive.” from the report
Strong management and teamwork
Relatives, staff and professionals spoke positively about how the home was managed. The provider had systems to monitor quality and improve care.
“There was a positive, lively and open culture at the service.” from the report
Good partnership working
The home worked with health and care professionals, including GP surgeries, dieticians, the epilepsy team and physiotherapists.
“The service worked in partnership with others to help ensure good outcomes for people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess and review the risks and support needs specific to my relative?
- 02How will you make sure my relative's medicines remain effective, and how often will reviews be requested?
- 03How will you support my relative's individual communication needs and help them make choices?
- 04How will relatives be involved in care reviews and decisions about changes to the home or care?
- 05How do you maintain a consistent staff team who know each person's needs well?
This was a focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other ratings were carried over from the last comprehensive inspection published on 12 April 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 11 November 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, April 2021
Inspected but not rated; inspectors found good infection control, safe visiting and up-to-date procedures.
This was a planned, announced inspection on 15 April 2021. It was a targeted inspection focused on infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspectors found good practice. Staff had infection control training, personal protective equipment was used correctly, and the building and equipment were clean and well maintained.
Families were kept informed about visiting rules. Admissions, testing, vaccination, consent and best interest decisions were handled with involvement from families and health professionals.
The home was inspected but not rated. This means the visit did not result in an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas.
PPE and staff training
Staff had infection prevention training and their skills were checked regularly. PPE was available and used correctly.
“Staff had completed infection, prevention and control (IPC) training and had their competencies checked regularly.” from the report
Clean premises
Inspectors found that the building and equipment were clean and in good repair.
“The building and equipment were clean and in good repair.” from the report
Visiting arrangements
Families were kept informed about changing visiting guidance. Visits were arranged in advance and included rapid testing.
“Families were kept up to date with changing government guidance for visiting and processes in place reflected good practice.” from the report
Safe admissions
People were admitted using risk assessments that considered government guidance and their wellbeing. Families and community care workers were involved.
“People had been admitted to the home safely.” from the report
Testing and vaccination
People and staff took part in regular COVID-19 testing and vaccination programmes. Easy-read information was available.
“Staff and people were participating in regular COVID-19 testing and vaccination programmes.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How have your infection prevention and control arrangements changed since the inspection on 15 April 2021?
- 02How do you currently manage visiting, including testing and appointments?
- 03How do you respond if a resident, visitor or staff member tests positive for an infection?
- 04What are the home's current arrangements for testing and vaccination?
- 05When was the home last fully assessed in the areas not covered by this targeted inspection?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control and the Safe question only; the report does not give ratings for Effective, Caring, Responsive or Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 30 April 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 Fernside
2 rated inspections over 6 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2023Goodcurrent ratingSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2018GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2017
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 18 January 2017.
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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15 live-in carers within about an hour of Dorset
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 £1,040 to £1,340 a week. 11 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Even when things get a bit chaotic (as they sometimes do!), you’ve handled it with patience and a sense of humour — which is gold.”
“Nina was patient, focussed on my aunt's physical well-being, and unfazed by what at the time was a new and uncertain situation”
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.