Romford Grange Care Home

Updated 14 October 2023

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector, one regulatory coordinator and one Expert by Experience.

A regulatory coordinator engages with providers and supports inspection processes by gathering evidence. 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

Romford Grange care home is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Romford Grange Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we already held about this service. This included details of its registration, previous inspection reports and any notifications of significant incidents the provider had sent us. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well and we used all this information to plan our inspection. This information helps support our inspections. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service, and 2 relatives, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 14 members of staff including an area manager, a clinical governor, the registered manager, the deputy manager, the chef, a nurse, an administrator and 7 care staff. We also spoke with 3 visiting health care professionals. We also 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 6 people’s care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 14 October 2023

About the service

Romford Grange care home is a residential care home which was providing nursing and or personal care to 40 people at the time of our inspection. All people living at the service were older people, some of whom were living with dementia. The service can support up to 41 people in one adapted building over two floors.

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

People were kept safe from the risk of abuse as staff were trained to identify concerns and the providers had processes in place to record and share information with statutory bodies. Risks to people were assessed, monitored and managed. There were enough staff working at the service to meet people’s needs. Recruitment processes were robust. Medicines were managed in a safe way by nurses who were trained, and competency checked. Effective infection prevention control measures were in place. Lessons were learned when things went wrong as incidents were recorded and actions completed to keep people safe.

The provider had adapted the building to ensure it met people’s needs. However, the premises required some maintenance and redecoration. The provider was aware of this and had planned to complete this before the end of 2023.

People were assessed in line with the law before being admitted to the service, this was so the provider could be assured the service could meet people’s needs. Staff received induction and training, so they knew how to work effectively with people. Staff were further supported in their role through supervision. People were supported to eat, drink and maintain healthy diets and people were positive about the dining experience. Staff communicated effectively with other agencies, including health care services, to ensure people received good care. 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’s capacity to make decisions were recorded, their wishes respected, and they were provided with choices about their daily lives.

People and relatives thought staff were caring. People were supported to express their views. People’s privacy and dignity were respected, and their independence promoted.

Care plans were person-centred, and staff knew what people liked. People’s communication needs were met. People were able to take part in activities provided by the service. People and relatives were provided with information about how to complain and when they did, complaints were responded to appropriately. The service recorded people’s end of life wishes and people and relatives were treated with respect and dignity when people approached the end of their lives.

A positive person-centred culture was promoted within the service. People, relatives, and staff thought highly of the management. The registered manager understood duty of candour and acted appropriately when it was felt the service could do better. Staff understood their roles and the registered manager fulfilled the service’s regulatory requirements. People, relatives, and staff were able to be engaged and involved with the service through meetings and surveys. Quality assurance systems monitored care so there was the potential for it to be improved. The service worked with other agencies to the benefit of people using the service.

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 the service was good published on 16 May 2022.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns raised about how the service was being managed. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.