The Old Farm House Residential Home

This report summarizes the findings of an inspection of The Old Farm House Residential Home, which took place on 9 and 10 October 2018. This was the first rating inspection under a new provider registered in October 2017. The inspection assessed the home's performance across five key areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-led, to ensure the quality of accommodation and care provided.

In terms of safety, while people generally felt secure and the premises were well-maintained, there were some areas for attention. For instance, 'as and when required' medicine protocols needed additional detail for consistency, and the staff pool was noted as vulnerable to shortages. Some staff had not yet participated in fire drills within the required timeframe, and awareness of business continuity plans needed improvement. The report also highlighted the need for clearer oversight of audit processes and prompt notification of certain serious incidents to the CQC, especially during periods of manager absence.

Regarding how effective the care is, staff received thorough induction and ongoing training, which enhanced their skills and knowledge, particularly in specialist areas like dementia care. People received appropriate support for their healthcare needs, and choices regarding food and hydration were consistently offered and monitored.

On caring, staff were consistently described as kind and compassionate, treating residents with dignity and respecting their privacy. Residents and their families felt involved in care decisions, and the home actively encouraged personalization of rooms and flexible visitor arrangements.

In terms of how responsive the service is, the home demonstrated a proactive approach to assessing and meeting residents' needs through comprehensive care plans that were regularly reviewed and updated with resident and family input. Activities were offered to encourage engagement, while respecting individual preferences, and clear procedures were in place for addressing concerns.

Finally, concerning how well-led the service is, while the management team was approachable and fostered an open culture, there were some key areas requiring improvement. Specifically, ensuring staff covering for the registered manager fully understood their responsibility to report notifiable events to the CQC was crucial. Additionally, a more robust quality assurance system was needed to effectively monitor identified shortfalls and their resolution, and policies and procedures were noted to require more detail to fully inform staff practice. The provider and registered manager have committed to implementing development plans to address these points.