CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Grindon
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- People were kept safe through suitable staffing, recruitment checks, safeguarding procedures and risk assessments. Medicines were given safely, but some handwritten medicines entries had not initially been signed by two staff.
- Effective?
- Good
- Staff had relevant training, supervision and support. People were supported with healthcare, nutrition, decision-making and independence in line with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff were exceptionally kind and person-centred. They used British Sign Language and creative communication methods to help people express themselves, make choices and build relationships.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care plans reflected people's needs, preferences and routines. People were supported to enjoy hobbies, develop daily living skills, access the community and try new activities.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- The management team created an open, inclusive culture focused on people's views and development. Audits, independent monthly reviews and feedback were used to monitor and improve the home.
What inspectors found, January 2019
Grindon was rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, well-led support, with a minor medicines-recording shortfall.
Inspectors visited on 15 October and 2 November 2018. The first visit was unannounced and the second was announced with short notice. They spoke with three people, staff, healthcare professionals and families. They also reviewed care files, medicines records, recruitment records and quality checks.
The home supported four younger adults with autism, learning disabilities and hearing loss. Inspectors found kind, person-centred care, with staff using British Sign Language and other communication tools. People were supported to make choices, build independence, enjoy activities and try new experiences.
The home was rated Good for safe, effective and responsive care. Caring and well-led were rated Outstanding. The overall rating improved from Good at the previous inspection in April 2016. Inspectors found medicines were given safely, but recommended better recording because some handwritten medicines entries had not been checked by two staff.
Communication
All staff could communicate using British Sign Language. The home also used pictures, symbols, widgets and social stories to help people understand information and express their views.
“Staff working at the service were all able to communicate using British sign language.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw staff treating people with compassion, dignity and respect. Staff took time to understand distress and worked with people to find solutions.
“People were treated with compassion, kindness and respect. Their privacy and human rights were upheld at all times.” from the report
Building independence
People were supported to develop daily living skills and take part in activities such as shopping, cooking, budgeting, surfing and holidays.
“With careful planning and skilled support, people were accessing community facilities and trying activities such as surfing, holidays and shopping for their own groceries.” from the report
Strong leadership
The managers involved people, relatives and staff in how the home was run. Regular audits and independent monthly reviews supported ongoing improvement.
“The views of people using the service, relatives and staff were at the core of quality monitoring and assurance arrangements.” from the report
Medicines records
minorSeveral handwritten entries on medicines administration records had not been signed by two staff. A checking system was introduced by the second inspection day, and inspectors recommended recording medicines in line with best practice.
“However, we found several handwritten entries on the medicine administration records (MAR) which had not been signed by two staff to ensure accuracy and accountability.” from the report
- 01How has the two-person checking process for handwritten medicines entries been maintained since the inspection?
- 02How will staff communicate with my relative if they use signing, pictures, symbols or other communication tools?
- 03How will my relative be supported to try new activities while keeping risks as low as possible?
- 04How will my relative be involved in decisions about their care, routines and the running of the home?
- 05How are health changes, such as epilepsy or other specialist needs, monitored and shared with healthcare professionals?
This was a planned inspection covering all five key questions, including the care provided and the premises; inspectors reviewed three of the four people's care files. This explanation was written from the published report of 16 January 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 Grindon
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- January 2019Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- April 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 27 March 2015.
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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17 live-in carers within about an hour of Devon
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 £1,020 to £1,270 a week. 15 can care for a couple. 13 years' experience on average.
“She is such a warm and gentle person while being professional and competent at the same time.”
“She looked after my mum, who can be incredibly challenging, so well and so gently, and we always felt confident that my mum was getting the best care available.”
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.