Penmount Grange

Updated 18 October 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

One inspector, one assistant inspector and an expert by experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Penmount Grange is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care workers, care workers and the chef. We also spoke with a visiting hairdresser and a psychological therapist who know the service well. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were also reviewed.

Updated 18 October 2019

About the service

Penmount Grange is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 27 people aged 65 and over. At the time of the inspection 25 people were living at Penmount Grange. The service is provided in one adapted building with an accessible garden.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe living at Penmount Grange. Staff had received training and understood how to maintain people’s safety. When people had risks related to their care needs, these were recorded in a risk assessment which included guidance for staff to reduce the risks. Staff were recruited safely.

People’s medicines were managed safely and administered on time. People told us they were supported to maintain their health and had appointments with external professionals when necessary. People told us they liked the food and had plenty of choice. People told us food and drinks were always available and any needs or preferences were catered for.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People told us staff were trained to meet their needs and treated them with respect and compassion. Staff knew people well and treated them with compassion. People told us staff treated them equally and fairly and staff understood the importance of recognising and supporting people’s differences.

We have made recommendations about recording people’s needs relating to their protected characteristics; and about ensuring staff have the skills to meet people’s diverse needs.

People told us they were able to express their views and make decisions about their care. People’s privacy and dignity was respected, and their independence was promoted. People’s care plans described how they would like to receive their care; however, it was not clear that everyone had been consulted about what was important to ensure they spent their time in a meaningful way. We have made a recommendation about this.

People and staff told us there was a positive culture in the service. There were various ways people and staff could share their views and any ideas for improvements.

Staff at all levels, including the provider, completed regular checks of the service to ensure its ongoing quality. Any areas requiring improvement were acted on.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 05 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.