Fonthill House

We found the following examples of good practice.

● The service was receiving professional visitors to the service with robust infection control procedures in place. Visitors were received into the reception area on arrival where they were provided with guidance, personal protective equipment (PPE) and a health screening was completed. Each visitor had their temperature checked by staff.

● At the time of our inspection, visits had been temporarily suspended due to an outbreak of COVID-19 at the service. This suspension was lifted shortly after our visit. Plans were in place to facilitate garden visits in designated areas. Visits were to be by appointment only, with times allocated to avoid potential infection transmission with other visitors and to enable the visiting area to be cleaned between visits. Visitors were to be provided with a rapid test for COVID-19, guidance and personal protective equipment (PPE). The provider was in the process of assessing communal areas within the service, following recent government guidance, to facilitate indoor visits.

● PPE donning and doffing stations were available throughout the service, with PPE supplies available outside each person's bedroom. The provider had made the decision to use enhanced PPE (above levels in current guidance) following their assessment of risk at the service. Guidance and information for staff, with detailed safe systems of work, were in place. Staff had received training on how to don, doff and dispose of the additional items of PPE they were wearing. In addition, a 'PPE Champion' had been identified in the staff team who, alongside 'PPE buddies', ensured that staff were supported to safely use the enhanced PPE.

● The service was engaged in the routine testing scheme, with all staff and people living at the service being tested for COVID-19 on a regular basis.

● The provider had developed policies and procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Management oversight and daily checks, alongside regular infection prevention and control audits were in place.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found