Fleet Hall Care Home

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of Signature at Fleet, a residential care home. The inspection assessed the home across five key areas: safety, effectiveness of care, how caring the staff are, responsiveness to residents' needs, and the overall leadership. The findings indicate that the service is generally well-managed and provides a good standard of care for its residents. The report highlights specific strengths and areas where improvements have been or are being made to further enhance the resident experience.

In terms of safety, the home has robust safeguarding systems in place, and staff are well-trained to protect residents from harm. Measures are taken to assess and manage individual risks with minimal restriction on personal freedom. The report notes that while most safety procedures are well-managed, there was a need to ensure all staff consistently followed the correct two-person sign-off for controlled drugs and to improve the recording of transdermal patch applications, which the provider has since addressed.

The effectiveness of the care provided is highlighted by the fact that residents' needs and choices are thoroughly assessed and planned for, adhering to best practice guidelines. Staff are well-trained and have the necessary skills, including specific training for dementia care. While the range of food and drink is good, the colour of the corridor walls on the reminiscence unit was identified as not being dementia-friendly, an issue the provider is addressing as part of planned refurbishment.

The report emphasizes that the staff treat residents with kindness, respect, and compassion, actively involving them in decisions about their care. Privacy, dignity, and independence are consistently promoted, and residents receive well-supported end-of-life care. Personalised care plans reflect individual needs and preferences, and staff demonstrate a good understanding of how to meet them, including communication needs.

Regarding responsiveness, residents receive personalised care that reflects their individual preferences, and staff have a strong understanding of these needs. They are also supported to engage in a variety of social activities both within the home and in the wider community, ensuring opportunities for stimulation.

Finally, the leadership at Signature at Fleet is described as being person-centred and fostering an open culture. The registered manager is a strong leader, and staff feel motivated. The home has a good governance framework to monitor performance, actively seeks feedback from residents, and uses this to drive improvements, working openly with external agencies to ensure residents' needs are met.