Archived: Grove Discharge Unit

Updated 9 June 2021

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

This inspection was undertaken by two inspectors and an inspection manager.

Service and service type

Grove Discharge Unit 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 the inspection

We checked the information that we held about the service. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the provider about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also gathered feedback about the service from the local authority and 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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of the staff team. This included the registered manager, the regional manager and four other members of the staff team.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four 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.

After the inspection –

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at quality assurance records, staff rotas, accident and incident records and other monitoring records.

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.

Updated 9 June 2021

About the service

Grove Discharge Unit is based within Clatterbridge Hospital. It provides short term nursing or residential care to up to 30 people who have been discharged from hospital and require a period of further assessment or rehabilitation. At the time of the inspection there were 26 people staying in the unit.

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

People said there were enough staff available to help them when needed. They were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had been safely recruited. Comments included, “The staff come quickly when I need them, they are always checking I am ok” and “Staff are wonderful, always enough staff but can be very busy at times”. Staff were available to promptly assist people throughout our inspection and staffing levels were regularly monitored, reviewed and amended when needed by the registered manager.

Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding procedures and risk to people had been assessed and measures put in place to minimise identified risks. Medicines were administered safely and stored securely. People told us they received their medicines when they needed them. The unit appeared clean and well maintained and staff had access to personal protective equipment to help prevent the spread of infection. People told us the home was a safe place to live. One person commented, “I feel very safe with the staff, I trust them, that makes me feel safe”.

Staff treated people well, we observed a helpful, caring and attentive culture amongst staff at the home. Staff were familiar with the people they were supporting and had a good rapport with them. People were supported to make decisions regarding their care and were involved in the creation of their care plans. Support was provided to people to help them regain their independence and do as much for themselves as possible before leaving the unit. People told us staff always protected their dignity and privacy.

Relatives said they had good communication with staff at the home and staff helped them to keep in touch with their loved ones whilst COVID-19 visiting restrictions have been in place. One relative commented, “My relative is very safe there, they really do provide 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.

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 6 April 2020).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the medication procedures. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern.

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.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service has not changed from good to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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.