CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Grenham Bay Court
Rated Requires improvement: inspectors found the home was not performing as well as it should and told it what to change.
What inspectors found, December 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control measures were being followed.
Inspectors visited the home on 26 November 2020 as part of a coronavirus-related review of infection prevention and control in care homes. The visit was announced.
They found measures to reduce infection risks for visitors, residents and staff. These included booked visits, handwashing facilities, PPE, hand sanitiser, temperature checks, social distancing and regular testing.
Staff were seen using PPE correctly. People could use technology to stay in touch with family and healthcare professionals, reducing the need for visits.
The home was inspected but not rated. This was not a full inspection of all five areas of care, so it does not provide an overall Good or Requires Improvement rating.
Visitor infection controls
Visitors had to book in advance. The home provided handwashing facilities, PPE and hand sanitiser, and checked visitors' temperatures.
“Visitors were required to book in advance and the provider had installed a hand washing station at the entrance and at other points throughout the home.” from the report
Correct use of PPE
Staff had training in handwashing and PPE. Inspectors saw staff using PPE correctly, with spot checks also carried out.
“We saw staff wearing PPE correctly during the inspection.” from the report
Testing arrangements
A senior staff member coordinated regular testing for residents and staff. The approach could be adapted for people living with dementia.
“They ensured that staff and people living at the home were regularly tested.” from the report
Contact with family and professionals
People were supported to use technology to communicate with friends, family and healthcare professionals, helping to reduce visits.
“People were supported to communicate with friends and family using technology.” from the report
Further development identified
minorInspectors signposted the home to resources to develop its approach. The report does not explain what specific changes were needed.
“We have also signposted the provider to resources to develop their approach.” from the report
- 01How are visitors currently booked, screened and supported to follow infection control measures?
- 02How often are residents and staff tested now, and how do you support people living with dementia during testing?
- 03How do you check that staff continue to use PPE correctly?
- 04What resources or improvements did the CQC signpost the home to after this inspection?
- 05How do residents keep in touch with family and healthcare professionals if visits are restricted?
This was a thematic review focused on infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic; it did not rate the other areas of care. This explanation was written from the published report of 9 December 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.
What inspectors found, March 2019
Grenham Bay Court was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care across all five areas.
Inspectors visited the home without warning on 18 January 2019. They spoke with people living there, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked records about medicines, safety, consent, training and how the home was managed.
They found people were safe, treated with kindness and supported by staff who had the right skills. Medicines were managed safely, there were enough staff during the visit, care plans were personalised, and people were helped with food, activities, healthcare and end-of-life care.
All five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. The overall rating stayed Good, as it had been at the previous comprehensive inspection on 17 June 2016. The report found no evidence of serious risks or concerns.
Safe staffing
Inspectors found enough care staff on duty to provide the care people needed promptly. Staffing numbers had also been consistent during the previous two weeks.
“During our inspection visit enough care staff were on duty to enable people to promptly receive all the care they needed.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw positive conversations that supported people's wellbeing. Staff respected privacy and helped people personalise their rooms and stay in touch with relatives.
“We witnessed a lot of positive conversations that promoted people's wellbeing.” from the report
Personalised care
People and relatives helped shape care plans, which were reviewed to reflect changing needs and wishes. People could also give feedback through the electronic care planning system.
“The care plans had been regularly reviewed by care staff to make sure that they accurately reflected people's changing needs and wishes.” from the report
Activities and interests
People could join group activities or receive individual support with interests such as reading, hand care and conversation. The home also arranged visits from local school children.
“There were three activities coordinators who invited people to participate in a range of small-group activities such as playing board games and enjoying arts and crafts.” from the report
Open management
The registered manager promoted an open culture. Quality checks were carried out and people, relatives and staff were invited to suggest improvements.
“In addition to this, people who lived in the service, their relatives and staff had been invited to make suggestions about how the service could be improved.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you keep my relative's care plan updated as their needs or wishes change?
- 02How many care staff will usually be on duty during the day and at night?
- 03How would you support my relative with eating, drinking or swallowing if their needs change?
- 04What activities and one-to-one support would be available for my relative's hobbies and interests?
- 05How would my family be involved in decisions if my relative could not make a particular decision themselves?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five questions and the overall rating; the Good rating carried forward from the previous comprehensive inspection in 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 21 March 2019 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 Grenham Bay Court
3 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- December 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- March 2019Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- July 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2015Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: Requires improvementCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- June 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- December 2010
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 1 December 2010.
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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39 live-in carers within about an hour of Kent
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Most charge £980 to £1,260 a week. 33 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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