Fernica (Residential Care Home)

Fernica is a residential care home that currently provides support and accommodation for up to ten adults diagnosed with mental health conditions. Each resident has a private bedroom alongside shared communal areas and an outdoor space. Following recent regulatory improvements, the service has successfully addressed previous legal breaches and demonstrated progress across its daily operations, though some administrative and oversight practices still require ongoing development and long-term sustainability to fully embed a high standard of care.

Residents and relatives shared positive feedback, noting that people felt well-supported both day and night by approachable staff who listened and offered helpful advice during difficult moments. The home actively engages individuals through regular residents' meetings, where daily topics like Wi-Fi access are discussed, alongside recently completed feedback surveys that highlighted a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.

Care plans accurately reflect individual support needs, and residents continue to receive their prescribed medications safely with the help of properly completed administration records and trained staff. The premises and equipment are regularly checked and maintained by contractors, and safety certificates are up to date, although inspectors noted that one resident with declining mobility was living in a basement bedroom accessed via steep stairs without the associated risk initially being identified.

Staff follow the legal framework of the Mental Capacity Act, ensuring that people are supported to make their own choices and that proper legal authorizations are in place when individuals require restrictions for their safety. The home maintains robust infection prevention and control measures, and visitors face no restrictions, while staff demonstrate a solid understanding of how to recognize and report any safeguarding concerns to protect residents from abuse.

Staffing arrangements have become more consistent through better links with local recruitment agencies and the removal of excessive working hours for the manager, though long-term staff retention remains a work in progress and one staff member required a renewed criminal records check.

Management and oversight have made visible progress with the help of a business improvement plan, routine audits, and a shared management application submitted to the regulators, but inspectors emphasized that these positive changes need more time to be fully embedded and sustained across the service.