CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Fir Close
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, well-managed medicines and generally suitable infection control, although improvements were needed in the laundry.
- Effective?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. The report says the previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Caring?
- Good
- People were treated with kindness, dignity and respect. Staff supported people's choices, communication, privacy and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This key question was not inspected during this focused visit. The report says the previous rating was used in calculating the overall rating.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The manager was described as open and approachable. Quality checks were in place, concerns were discussed, and relatives and staff felt able to raise issues.
What inspectors found, April 2021
Fir Close was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and well-managed care, with a laundry improvement made after the visit.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 7 April 2021. It followed concerns about people's care needs, staff training and staff attitudes. The inspector spoke with one person, four relatives and 11 staff, and checked care, medicine, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Caring and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe recruitment, suitable medicine arrangements and good infection control overall. Staff knew people well, supported their independence and treated them with kindness and respect.
Inspectors said the laundry layout and staff practices could be improved to strengthen infection control. The manager responded and sent evidence that the necessary improvements had been made after the inspection.
Effective and Responsive were not inspected during this visit. Their earlier ratings were used when calculating the overall Good rating. The previous overall rating was also Good, published on 25 April 2019.
Enough trained staff
Staff said there were enough people on each shift to meet people's needs. Inspectors saw a calm atmosphere, with people not waiting for care.
“Throughout our visit we saw staff interacting well with people, the atmosphere at the service was calm and people were not waiting for care.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people's needs and treated them with kindness, dignity and respect. People were supported to make everyday choices and remain as independent as possible.
“People were treated with respect and kindness. Throughout our visit we saw positive interactions between people and staff who clearly knew their needs.” from the report
Safe medicines
Inspectors found that medicines were stored and given safely. People received their medicines as prescribed and with the level of support they needed.
“People received their medicines as prescribed and in a way they chose.” from the report
Open management
The manager was visible and approachable. Relatives and staff said they could raise concerns, and quality checks identified actions that were completed promptly.
“The registered manager was visible and managed the service in an open and transparent way.” from the report
Laundry infection control
needs fixingInspectors found that the laundry layout and staff practices could be improved. The manager provided evidence after the inspection that the changes had been made.
“During our visit we saw improvements could be made to the laundry to better enhance infection prevention and control, through the layout, and staff practices.” from the report
- 01What changes were made to the laundry after the inspection, and how do you check that staff continue to follow them?
- 02How do you make sure there are enough suitably trained staff on every shift?
- 03What are the current ratings and recent findings for Effective and Responsive care, which were not inspected during this visit?
- 04How are people's changing care needs, falls and weight monitored and acted on?
- 05How will relatives be kept informed about incidents, concerns and visiting arrangements?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe, Caring and Well-led only; Effective and Responsive were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 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.
What inspectors found, April 2019
Fir Close was rated Good overall; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with some room for improvement in activities and cleanliness.
This was an unannounced, planned comprehensive inspection. One inspector visited on 7 and 13 February 2019, spoke with people, relatives, staff and a health professional, observed care, and checked records.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training, access to healthcare and care that respected people's choices and dignity.
The report also noted that some people had little stimulation during quieter periods. Two toilets appeared dirty below the water level, and a shower fitting was broken. The provider agreed to address these issues, and immediately requested maintenance for the shower concern.
The previous inspection, published in May 2016, also rated the service Good. No regulations were reported as breached, and the service was not placed in special measures.
Safe staffing and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff to support people in a timely way. Medicines records showed that people received their medicines as prescribed.
“People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed supporting people kindly and promoting their independence. People were involved in decisions about their care.
“We observed staff interacting with people who used the service and we found they were supported people in a caring and kind way which promoted their independence.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's choices and preferences. People were supported to keep links with family, use the community and take part in activities they chose.
“People had been involved in planning their care and support and their choices and preferences had been included in their plan of care.” from the report
Good management checks
The management team used audits and provider visits to monitor care, medicines, records, incidents and environmental issues.
“The service had an auditing system where things such as medication, infection control, care plans, health and safety and staff files were monitored” from the report
Quiet periods and stimulation
needs fixingSome people were left for long periods with little stimulation between entertainers and visitors. The provider agreed to look at alternative options during the day.
“In-between entertainers and visitors to the service, we observed some people were left for long periods of time with little stimulation.” from the report
Cleanliness and bathroom equipment
minorTwo toilets appeared dirty below the water level, one bathroom had little ventilation and a shower head holder was broken. The provider requested maintenance for these concerns during the inspection.
“We observed two toilets appeared dirty below the water level. One bathroom had little ventilation.” from the report
- 01What activities or one-to-one support are now offered during quieter periods?
- 02Have the two toilets, bathroom ventilation and shower head holder been checked and fixed?
- 03How will you make sure my relative's medicines are given and recorded correctly?
- 04How often will my relative's care plan and risk assessments be reviewed?
- 05How can relatives raise concerns, and when can they attend the monthly surgery?
This was an unannounced planned comprehensive inspection covering all five CQC questions, including both the premises and the care provided. This explanation was written from the published report of 25 April 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 Fir Close
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- April 2021Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- April 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodCaring: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2011
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 20 January 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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9 live-in carers within about an hour of Lincolnshire
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.
8 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Martin was more than a carer, he managed the home and became my uncle's best friend, enriching his life during his last few years.”
“Magda was always positive and proactive about trying new things to keep dad busy. She also introduced new ideas for keeping dad healthy.”
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.