CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Grange Lea Care Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured about most infection control arrangements, including PPE, testing, visiting and outbreak management. They were only somewhat assured that the layout and hygiene practices of the premises promoted safety.
- Effective?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Responsive?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
- Well-led?
- Good
- This question was not assessed in this targeted inspection.
What inspectors found, February 2022
Grange Lea Care Home was inspected but not rated; inspectors found mostly good infection control, with some uncertainty about the premises' layout and hygiene.
Inspectors visited the home on 24 January 2022. This was an announced, targeted inspection during the COVID-19 pandemic. They looked mainly at infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures.
Inspectors found communal areas clean and tidy. High-risk areas such as door handles and handrails received extra cleaning. They were assured about visitors, distancing, PPE, testing, outbreak management, visiting arrangements and the infection control policy.
There was one area where inspectors were only somewhat assured. This concerned how the layout and hygiene practices of the premises promoted safety. Inspectors signposted the home to resources to improve its approach.
The home was inspected but not rated. Only the Safe question was inspected, and no rating was given, so this report does not provide an overall quality rating.
Clean communal areas
Communal areas were clean and tidy, with extra cleaning of high-risk areas such as door handles and handrails.
“Communal areas of the home were maintained in a clean and tidy manner.” from the report
Vaccination and testing
All staff were fully vaccinated, and the provider carried out regular testing for people and staff.
“All staff had been fully vaccinated, and the provider carried out regular testing to ensure people and staff were kept safe.” from the report
Family contact
The home supported people to maintain contact with family and friends through managed visits and other communication systems.
“The home was supporting people to maintain family and social contacts through managed direct visits and other communication systems.” from the report
Infection control arrangements
Inspectors were assured about PPE, testing, visiting arrangements, social distancing and managing possible outbreaks.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Premises layout and hygiene
minorInspectors were only somewhat assured that the layout and hygiene practices of the premises promoted safety. They signposted the home to resources to develop its approach.
“We were somewhat assured that the provider was promoting safety through the layout and hygiene practices of the premises.” from the report
- 01What changes have you made to the layout and hygiene practices since inspectors were only somewhat assured about them?
- 02How do you now check that door handles, handrails and other high-risk areas are cleaned?
- 03How are visits currently managed, and what other ways can residents keep in contact with family?
- 04How do you manage staffing pressures linked to COVID-19?
- 05How often are people using the service and staff tested?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control, visiting arrangements and staffing pressures; the service was inspected but not rated and the other CQC questions were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 February 2022 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
What inspectors found, April 2020
Grange Lea Care Home was rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring; inspectors found highly personalised care and a stable staff team.
Inspectors visited without notice on 6 February 2020. They spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. They also looked at care plans, medicines records, staff checks, training and management records.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective, responsive and well-led care. Caring was rated Outstanding, improving from Good at the previous inspection. Inspectors found kind, personalised support, enough staff, safe medicines systems, good food and strong links with families and the local community.
The report says the provider had changed since the previous rating, which was published in October 2016. Some mental capacity records were being strengthened and care plans were being rewritten to make information easier to find.
Exceptionally caring staff
Staff were described as going beyond routine care to make sure people's wishes and preferences were respected. Inspectors found a strong person-centred culture.
“Staff went "above and beyond" to ensure care was just right for people.” from the report
Personal goals and independence
People were supported to continue hobbies, attend important family events and take positive risks that improved their quality of life.
“People were encouraged to live full and active lives and achieve their goals.” from the report
Stable staffing
People were cared for by a consistent staff team who knew them well. Inspectors found enough staff on duty to meet people's needs.
“People were cared for by a consistent and stable staff team.” from the report
Food and healthcare
People spoke positively about the food, including the choice and substitutions available. Staff helped people access healthcare and professionals gave positive feedback.
“People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure their health and wellbeing.” from the report
Community connections
The home supported links with families, churches, schools and local businesses. People could maintain interests and contact with others using technology and community activities.
“There were close links with local schools, churches and businesses to help ensure people were involved in their local community.” from the report
Mental capacity records
minorThe manager was strengthening the records that showed how mental capacity decisions had been considered. Ask to see whether this documentation is now complete and clear.
“The registered manager was strengthening their documentation relating to mental capacity to ensure all areas of the process were evidenced.” from the report
Care plans being rewritten
minorCare plans were being reformulated during the inspection so that information would be clearer and easier to find. Ask how this work was completed and how plans are kept up to date.
“Care plans were being reformulated at the time of the inspection to make information clearer and easier to find.” from the report
- 01Have the mental capacity records been fully updated so that all best-interest decisions and supporting evidence are recorded?
- 02Have the care plans that were being reformulated been completed, and how often are they reviewed?
- 03How do you make sure medicines stored in people's bedrooms remain secure and are given as prescribed?
- 04How do you maintain the stable staffing team and make sure there are enough staff for each person's needs?
- 05How are residents supported to continue their hobbies, family relationships, faith and community activities?
This was a planned, unannounced inspection covering all five key questions, the premises and the care provided; the previous overall rating was Good and caring improved from Good to Outstanding. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 April 2020 by an AI system and checked against the report text: every quoted line appears in the report. It is a guide to the report, not a substitute for it. Read the full report on cqc.org.uk.
Every inspection of Grange Lea Care Home
Each visit the CQC has published, newest first, back to the day the home was registered.
- February 2022Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- April 2020GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2019
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 19 March 2019.
Ratings and report dates from the Care Quality Commission, Open Government Licence v3.0. A home can also be visited without a new rating being published, so the timeline shows published inspections.
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23 live-in carers within about an hour of Northumberland
These are self-employed carers on PrimeCarers, the introductory agency that runs this directory. Each has a profile with their own rates and reviews from families, and you choose who to talk to.
Most charge £950 to £1,190 a week. 20 can care for a couple. 11 years' experience on average.
Every carer has had an enhanced DBS check in the last 18 months, ID and right-to-work checks and an online interview. Their skills and training are for you to check with them. Carers set their own rates, and who is free changes week to week.