Grange Cottage Residential home for Elderly Persons

We found the following examples of good practice.

The provider had very robust procedures for preventing visitors from catching or spreading infection. There were clear signs at the entrance to the home advising people of the symptoms of COVID-19 and advising people not to visit if they were experiencing symptoms of the virus.

The provider had a designated area, separate from the home, for visitors to carry out Lateral Flow Device COVID-19 testing. They had also provided a safe and comfortable weatherproof external sitting area where people could meet their visitors while maintaining social distancing. In line with guidance, all but essential visiting had been suspended due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The provider was knowledgeable about best practice in supporting people to self-isolate in their rooms during the outbreak of COVID-19. People who chose to leave their rooms were discreetly and sensitively monitored by staff to ensure they maintained social distancing.

The provider followed safe procedures when people were admitted to the home. People received a negative COVID-19 test result before they moved into the home and were supported to self-isolate in their rooms for 14 days after moving to the home. The provider worked cooperatively with local stakeholders to ensure all admissions followed best practice guidelines.

The provider had arranged for staff and people who lived in the home to have regular tests for COVID-19. They had also arranged for people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The home was clean and hygienic. We observed staff regularly cleaning frequently touched areas such as banisters and grab rails. We saw the staff understood the importance of maintaining a safe and hygienic environment and worked as a team to ensure high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

There was a very experienced and committed staff team working in the home. The provider and staff had placed restrictions on their personal lives to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 to protect the people they cared for.

This was a small home with a focus on providing a caring and domestic style atmosphere. The provider worked with the staff to deliver people’s care. During the outbreak of COVID-19 the provider had moved into a spare room in the home to be on site and available for people and the staff team.

The provider had kept up to date with national guidance on working safely in care homes and had shared best practice with the staff. They had robust and up-to-date infection prevention and control policies and procedures.

At our last inspection under the previous provider but the same registered manager the service was rated as good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. The overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection of the service.

Grange Cottage Residential Home for Elderly Persons 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 home is registered for up to nine older persons and was fully occupied at the time of this inspection. There are six bedrooms in the main house and three people are accommodated in a purpose-built bungalow within the grounds. Shared space is provided in a lounge, dining room and conservatory on the ground floor of the main house.

Some incidents requiring notifications to be made to CQC had not always been done. The failure to notify us of matters of concern as outlined in the registration regulations is a breach of the provider's condition of registration and this matter is being dealt with outside of the inspection process.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs. Staff training was ongoing and staff had received sufficient training to safely support and care for people. Staff were also supported through regular staff meetings, supervision and appraisals.

We saw that the service worked with a variety of external agencies and health professionals to provide appropriate care and support to meet people’s physical and emotional health needs.

People received their medications as they had been prescribed. Appropriate arrangements were in place in relation to the storage, care planning and records for the administration of medicines.

People’s rights were protected. The registered manager was knowledgeable about their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were only deprived of their liberty if this had been authorised by the appropriate body or where applications had been made to do so.

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

People living in the home were supported to access activities that were made available to them and pastimes of their choice.

When employing fit and proper persons the recruitment process had included all of the required checks of suitability.

Auditing and quality monitoring systems were in place that allowed the service to demonstrate effectively the safety and quality of the home.

We observed staff displayed caring and meaningful interactions with people and people were treated with respect. We observed people's dignity and privacy were actively promoted by the staff supporting them.

Further information is in the detailed findings below