Grange Ave

Updated 27 January 2022

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

One inspector and a member of the CQC medicines team carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience telephoned relatives to gain their feedback about Grange Ave. 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

Grange Ave is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a 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. 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 three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, service manager, nurse and members of staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and four medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance and policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. We spoke with five professionals who regularly visit the service. An Expert by Experience telephoned three relatives to gain their feedback about Grange Ave.

Updated 27 January 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Grange Ave is a care home providing personal and nursing care to five people with mental health needs, a learning disability and autistic people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to five people.

Each person living at Grange Ave has their own independent flat, with bedroom, kitchen, lounge and bathroom. There are no communal areas within the home.

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

People had individualised support and were involved in reviewing and agreeing their support needs. Person-centred risk management and care plans provided guidance and information about people’s support needs, including strategies if people became agitated. People received their medicines as prescribed and these were regularly reviewed.

Staff had the training and support they needed to provide high quality and safe support. They said they felt well supported by the management team. Staff supported and prompted people to be independent where possible. Staff were safely recruited. Staff knew how to report any concerns they had.

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 had advocates to support them in making decisions about their care and support.

A quality assurance system was in place, with audits and checks being made by the service manager, nurses and at a provider level. The management team were very knowledgeable around the transforming care agenda and closed cultures. The service worked with a range of professionals, who were positive about the support provided and the achievements people had made in their lives.

Current government guidelines for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID-19 testing for staff and visitors, and vaccination as a condition of employment were being followed.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. Staff knew people and their needs well, provided flexible person-centred support and supported people to engage in the activities they wanted to do, including going out into the community.

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 1 July 2019).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding to test the reliability of our new monitoring approach.

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.