The Firefly Club Care Home

This report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) provides an overview of the Firefly Club Care Home following an inspection on 14 July 2023. The inspection assessed the service against key questions including safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness, and leadership. The report details improvements made since the previous inspection, alongside areas where further attention is needed to ensure the highest standards of care are consistently met for residents. It highlights the commitment of the staff and management to enhancing the quality of life for individuals.

Regarding safety, while improvements have been made, particularly in medicine management and premises maintenance, some risk management plans still require more detail. Additionally, there's a need for more comprehensive recording of financial transactions in the domiciliary service to promptly identify any discrepancies. Infection control practices are generally good, though cleaning schedules were not always fully completed.

In terms of how effective the care is, the service has seen significant improvements and now consistently achieves good outcomes for residents. Staff are well-trained and supported, with robust systems for monitoring training completion and a strong induction programme. The service is also now operating in line with the Mental Capacity Act, with appropriate authorisations in place and a focus on reducing restrictions to promote choice and control.

Concerning how caring the service is, people expressed happiness and comfort with the staff, who treated them with respect and patience. Care plans are personalised, promoting independence, dignity, and privacy, and residents are encouraged to make choices and participate in various activities. The environment has also been improved, with residents' input sought for decorating and new experiences.

In terms of how responsive the service is, residents and their relatives feel heard and supported. Staff are attentive to individual needs, and the service actively seeks feedback from people, relatives, and staff to drive continuous improvement. There are sufficient staff numbers to meet residents' needs, fostering positive working relationships and ensuring continuity of care through effective use of agency staff.

Finally, on how well-led the service is, the management team is passionate about improving residents' quality of life and has plans for further development. While improvements have been made in governance, there are still areas to strengthen, particularly in ensuring internal monitoring processes consistently identify and address shortfalls. A recommendation has been made regarding the robustness of financial records to enhance governance.