Newbury Grove

personal care, as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. This care home is run by two providers; namely, WT UK Opco 4 and Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd. These two providers have a dual registration and are jointly responsible for the services at the home. This report is in relation to WT UK Opco 4. A separate report has been produced for Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd. Newbury Grove accommodates up to 68 people in one building over three floors. The first floor was the 'Memory Care' community, which had been designed as a living space suitable for people living with dementia. There were 62 people living in the home at the time of inspection. People living at the service were older people, some of whom were living with dementia.

We found the following examples of good practice:

The provider followed current Government guidance to protect visitors from catching and spreading infection. For example, visitors were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) to wear whilst visiting the home. Visitors, including health care professionals were asked to complete a lateral flow test (LFT) and health care professionals were asked to evidence their COVID-19 vaccination status before entering the home. All staff who worked at the home were vaccinated against COVID-19.

People were admitted into the service safely. The provider ensured people had been tested for COVID-19 before admitting them into the home.

Staff had good understanding of COVID-19 symptoms that present in older people. The registered manager ensured the staff and people who presented with COVID- 19 symptoms were tested immediately.

People and staff had adequate access to COVID-19 testing programme. The provider had an infection prevention policy in place and contacted their local health protection team in a timely way in the event of a COVID- 19 outbreak.

Staff had received infection prevention and control training. During our visit we observed staff adhere to good practice in relation to PPE. The provider had appointed a COVID-19 coordinator. They supported the registered manager and clinical nurse managers to operate the provider’s competency framework in relation to COVID-19. They also quality assured staff delivery of care in accordance with COVID-19 risk assessments.

The provider ensured sufficient stock of PPE and COVID-19 tests were available and the management team maintained the testing regime in line with national guidance.

The provider had adapted the premises to prevent and control the spread of infection. For example, the provider had created a one-way system for entering and leaving the premises, additional hand washing facilities had been created and accommodation adapted to provide staff changing rooms and rest rooms on each floor. The provider had designated a room for staff testing, created multiple donning and doffing facilities and PPE stations were placed in prominent areas of the home.

Highly visible signage provided the necessary information to staff relating to transmission-based precautions and the level of support required for each person. For example, restricted access signage was clearly posted on the doors of people who had been infected with COVID-19 and were isolating in their room. Appropriate signs clearly identified the increased risk and the requirement for staff to wear enhanced PPE when supporting people with equipment and techniques which increased the risk of infection.

The provider’s visiting policy ensured that individual risk assessments assessed the rights and needs of people, as well as any specific vulnerabilities outlined in their care plan, and considered the important role that visiting can play in this.

Gracewell of Newbury is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care, as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

This care home is run by two providers; namely, Gracewell Healthcare 3 Limited and Gracewell Healthcare Limited. These two providers have a dual registration and are jointly responsible for the services at the home. This report is in relation to Gracewell Healthcare 3 Limited. A separate report has been produced for Gracewell Healthcare Limited.

Gracewell of Newbury accommodates up to 68 people in one building over three floors. The first floor was the ‘Memory Care’ community, which had been designed as a living space suitable for people living with dementia. There were 64 people living in the home at the time of inspection. People living at the service were older people, some of whom were living with dementia.

People's experience of using this service

The service provided exceptionally responsive, person-centred support to people which consistently achieved outstanding outcomes for people.Staff provided excellent consistency and continuity of care which had a major impact on people’s quality of life.

Staff were particularly skilled at involving people and their family, together with health and social care professionals in their care and support plans, so that they felt consulted, empowered, listened to and valued.

Staff consistently went the extra mile to find out what people have done in the past to enable people to carry out person-centred activities which enriched the quality of their lives.People were supported to maintain relationships that mattered to them which protected them from the risk of social isolation and loneliness.

The registered manager used concerns to improve the service. For example, a Hydration Project initiated within the service had significantly reduced the number of falls, infections and weight loss experienced by people living in the home.

The service worked closely with healthcare professionals and provided outstanding end of life care, which ensured people experienced a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.

People were supported by a stable core staff group who were kind, caring and inspired by the registered manager to deliver high quality, personalised care.

People were protected from discrimination, neglect, avoidable harm, and abuse by staff. Risks to people's safety had been identified and assessed. Staff followed people’s risk management plans to keep them safe. People received their prescribed medicines safely, from staff who had their competency to administer medicines assessed. People’s medicines management plans were reviewed regularly to ensure continued administration was still required to meet their needs.

High standards of cleanliness and hygiene were maintained throughout the home, which reduced the risk of infection. Staff followed the required standards of food safety and hygiene, when preparing, serving and handling food.

Staff felt valued and respected by the management team, and consistently demonstrated high levels of morale.Staff had the required skills to meet people’s needs effectively, which led to good outcomes for people’s care and support and promoted their quality of life.

People’s care plans were comprehensive, providing staff with the required information about their needs and how to meet them.

The registered manager had worked effectively with local organisations, health and social care professionals and multi-disciplinary teams and was often the driving force to improve outcomes for people, through joined up care provision.

Rating at the last inspection

At the last inspection the service was rated Good (published 26 September 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We did not identify any concerns at this inspection. We will therefore aim to re-inspect this service within the published time scale for services rated good. We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive.

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