Pelham Grove Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

• The home had a clear visiting policy in place to ensure visiting was carefully managed. This included several important steps to ensure this was done as safely as possible such as screening visitors for symptoms, maintaining social distancing, appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and visits by appointment.

• The home had information and guidance displayed at the entrance to the home, reminding people to maintain social distancing, maintain good hand hygiene and wear appropriate PPE. Sanitiser and PPE was also available throughout the home.

• Staff and residents had received regular Covid testing through a pilot scheme in the local area. The pilot scheme had concluded but the home had registered for whole home testing to ensure regular testing continued. Whole home testing means every care home in England is being offered a coronavirus test for all residents and staff, even if they have no symptoms.

• We observed staff wearing the required PPE whilst supporting people at the home.

This was the first inspection of Pelham Grove since it was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in February 2016 with ADL Plc as the provider of the service. Prior to February 2016 the service had been operating under a different provider. Some staff including the registered manager transferred to working for ADL Plc when it registered to provide this service.

Pelham Grove is registered to provide accommodation and support for up to 35 people. At the time of our inspection 34 people were living there.

Pelham Grove 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 care home accommodates people in one adapted building.

The home has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People living at Pelham Grove were complimentary about the service they received. Their comments included, “I feel safe and comfortable. The way they speak to people they have the patience of a saint.” “There can’t be many better. Because of the food, the layout, the staff and the feel of the place,” “It’s lovely here,” and “I would sooner be here than on my own.”

Systems were in place for safeguarding people from the risk of abuse and reporting any concerns that arose. People said they felt safe living there and staff knew what action to take if they felt people were at risk of abuse. A system was also in place for raising concerns or complaints and people living at the home and their relatives told us they would feel confident to raise a concern.

Pelham Grove was in the middle of a refurbishment programme. Equipment and the building were monitored regularly to ensure they were safe. The areas that had been refurbished had been carried out to a good standard. The building had adaptations and equipment to support people with their mobility and personal care. This included a lift, grab rails and call bells. We discussed with the registered manager checking with current good practice guidance around supporting people living with dementia or failing eyesight when making future decorating or adaptations to the building.

People’s medication was safely managed and they received it on time and as prescribed. Staff provided people with the support they needed to manage their physical and mental health care needs.

A series of assessments of people’s care needs had been carried out and regularly reviewed. Where people required support this was detailed in their care plans which provided guidance for staff on how to meet people’s needs safely and well.

There was enough staff working at the home to meet people’s care needs. Systems were in place and followed to recruit staff and check they were suitable to work with people at risk of abuse or neglect.

People liked the staff team and told us that they were kind and caring. Staff had received training to help them understand and meet the care needs of people living at the home. Staff told us that they felt supported and we saw that they had regular staff meetings and supervisions with senior staff.

Staff spent time interacting with people as well as meeting their care needs. People told us that staff always respected their dignity and were attentive to their needs.

The home employed an activities coordinator who knew people well and tried to provide activities or company to everyone based on people’s individual needs and preferences. A range of activities were available including entertainers and trips out and we saw that people enjoyed taking part in these.

The provider met the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to make choices and decisions for themselves. Where people lacked the capacity to make important decisions for themselves then the provider took steps to protect them. This included holding best interest meetings and applying to the local authority for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DoLS) for the person.

Mealtimes were relaxed social occasions. People told us that they had a choice of meals and we saw that staff offered people support to eat, drink and monitor their nutritional needs.

People living at the home knew the registered manager well and told us they had confidence in her. Staff also told us that they found senior staff approachable and supportive.

Systems were in place for checking the quality of the service provided. This included a series of audits and plans to check improvements had been made. The views of people living at the home had regularly been obtained both formally and informally. Information about the home was readily available to people living there and their visitors.