CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Fordingbridge Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, August 2023
Fordingbridge Care Home is Rated Good overall; inspectors found safe care, but leadership, dignity and activities needed improvement.
The unannounced inspection took place on 6 June 2023. One inspector spoke with managers and staff, received feedback from four relatives, observed people's care, and checked care, medicines, recruitment and management records.
The home was rated Good for safety. Inspectors found enough suitably skilled staff, safe recruitment, suitable infection control, safe medicines management and clear risk plans. Staff understood safeguarding, and lessons from incidents had been shared.
The well-led rating fell from Good to Requires Improvement. Inspectors saw missed opportunities to support people with dignity, including at mealtimes. Relatives and staff also said there were not enough activities. The overall rating stayed Good because other key questions were not inspected and their previous ratings were carried forward.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough skilled staff were deployed and that recruitment checks were completed safely.
“There were enough skilled staff deployed to support people and meet their needs.” from the report
Safe medicines
Medicines were stored securely, records were accurate, and staff training and competence checks were in place.
“People could be confident medicines were managed safely and administered by competent staff who had access to appropriate guidance and information.” from the report
Risk management
People's risks were assessed clearly, with guidance for staff on how to reduce those risks.
“Risks were clearly assessed and appropriate plans to reduce these risks for people.” from the report
Learning from incidents
The provider had introduced actions after safeguarding concerns, including medication audits and refresher training.
“The recent medication audits and competency assessment records suggest these actions have been embedded in the providers governance systems and medication procedures.” from the report
Infection control
Inspectors were assured that the home had arrangements to prevent and manage infections, including using protective equipment safely.
“We were assured the provider was responding effectively to risks and signs of infection.” from the report
Dignity at mealtimes
needs fixingInspectors saw one person did not receive meal support until the manager prompted staff. They also saw staff standing over another person while cutting up their meal, rather than supporting them at eye level.
“Staff did not recognise during lunch time that a person required support to eat till asked by the registered manager to do so.” from the report
Not enough activities
needs fixingRelatives and staff said people needed more opportunities to take part in activities linked to their hobbies and interests. Activity coordinator posts were being advertised.
“There needs to be a lot more going on for people, there just isn't enough.” from the report
Improvements not yet proven
needs fixingThe provider submitted an action plan for more mealtime observations and more frequent dining audits. Inspectors said more time was needed before they could judge whether these changes worked.
“Time was needed for the planned improvements to be completed before we can judge the effectiveness of the provider's planned improvements.” from the report
- 01What changes have been made to ensure people receive dignified support at mealtimes?
- 02How do managers now observe and check people's dining experience?
- 03What activities are currently available for each person's hobbies and interests?
- 04Have the activity coordinator posts been filled, and how is the activity programme being monitored?
- 05What progress has been made against the action plan requested by the CQC?
This was an unannounced inspection focused on Safe and Well-led; the other key question ratings were not inspected and were carried over from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 August 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, May 2021
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, safe care, but a serious safeguarding concern was not reported promptly.
This was an unannounced inspection on 31 March and 7 April 2021. Inspectors looked at three areas: Safe, Effective and Well-led. They spoke with people, staff and relatives, watched how staff and people interacted, and checked care, medicines, staff and management records.
The home was rated Good overall. Safe and Well-led were rated Good. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines management, clean premises and good infection control. People were treated kindly and staff knew them well.
There was a serious safeguarding failure. A concern reported to the registered manager was not acted on or passed to the relevant agencies for about six weeks. Relatives were not told until about seven weeks after the alleged events. The registered manager was no longer employed, and the provider had taken action when it became aware.
Kind, person-centred care
People were at the centre of the service. Staff knew people well, comforted them when they were distressed and shared positive interactions with them.
“People were the focus of the service and the staff team had worked together to provide an effective service” from the report
Staffing
Inspectors saw enough staff to support people without unnecessary waiting. Staff were safely recruited.
“We saw enough staff deployed to provide positive, person centred care.” from the report
Clean and controlled environment
The home was clean and fresh. Inspectors found appropriate infection control measures, including testing, protective equipment and visitor procedures.
“The premises were clean and fresh looking, and we saw housekeeping staff throughout our inspection cleaning and sanitising areas.” from the report
Medicines management
Medicines and controlled medicines were checked and stored safely. Staff received training and annual competence checks.
“Medicines were safely managed. We reviewed medicine administration records (MAR) and checked stocks of medicines.” from the report
Safeguarding delay
seriousA safeguarding concern reported to the registered manager was not acted on for about six weeks. This left alleged victims at risk and the alleged perpetrator working in the home during that period.
“The safeguarding incident reported by care staff to the registered manager had not been acted upon. This left the alleged victims at risk of further abuse and the alleged perpetrator still working in the service.” from the report
Relatives were not told promptly
needs fixingRelatives of people involved were not informed about the safeguarding allegations until about seven weeks after they were said to have happened.
“Relatives had been informed about the incidents approximately seven weeks after they were alleged to have happened.” from the report
Training records and induction
needs fixingOne new staff member had not completed induction, and there were gaps in mandatory training records. The provider had started updating records and arranging training.
“During the pandemic one staff member had not completed an induction. Induction records were blank, and the only training completed in 2020 was moving and assisting.” from the report
- 01How are safeguarding concerns escalated now, including when the manager is not available?
- 02How do you make sure safeguarding concerns are reported to the local authority and CQC without delay?
- 03Has every staff member completed induction and mandatory training, and how are the records checked?
- 04Who is currently responsible for managing the home, and what arrangements cover the manager's absence?
- 05Has the CQC registration been updated following the change in ownership mentioned in the report?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led; Caring and Responsive were not inspected, and previous ratings for areas not reviewed were used in the overall rating. This explanation was written from the published report of 13 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.
Every inspection of Fordingbridge Care Home
5 rated inspections over 8 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- August 2023Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- May 2021Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Inspected but not ratedWell-led: Good
- September 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- May 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- May 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 23 October 2012.
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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