CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Grindon Short Break Service
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors were assured that infection prevention and control arrangements were effective. This included cleaning, use of protective equipment, testing, social distancing and safe admissions.
- Effective?
- Good
- Does the care work? Training, consent, food and drink, working with GPs and nurses.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Are people treated with kindness and dignity?
- Responsive?
- Good
- Is care built around the person? Care plans, activities, complaints.
- Well-led?
- Good
- Is the home run well? The manager, the culture, how problems get found and fixed.
What inspectors found, November 2020
Inspected but not rated; inspectors were assured that infection control measures were keeping people safe during the pandemic.
This was an announced, targeted inspection on 2 November 2020. Inspectors looked only at infection prevention and control measures as part of a national coronavirus review of care homes.
Inspectors were assured that the home was preventing infections, using protective equipment safely, following social distancing rules and admitting people safely. They also found appropriate cleaning, testing, training, audits and infection control checks.
The home adapted activities and support during the pandemic. People were involved in decisions about safe activities and outings, and each person had an individual COVID-19 care plan and risk assessment.
The service was inspected but not rated. This means the inspection did not give an overall quality rating or full ratings for all five areas of care.
Infection prevention
Systems were in place to reduce the risk of people, staff and visitors catching or spreading infections. Cleaning of shared areas and frequently touched surfaces had been increased.
“We were assured that the provider was preventing people from catching and spreading infections.” from the report
Safe use of protective equipment
Staff had training in putting on and taking off protective equipment, hand hygiene and other COVID-19 measures. Managers checked staff practice.
“Staff had undertaken training in putting on and taking off PPE, hand hygiene and other Covid-19 related training.” from the report
Personalised support
People had individual COVID-19 care plans and risk assessments. These were intended to protect choice, privacy, dignity and independence.
“Each person had their own individual, person centred Covid-19 care plan and risk assessment which promoted their rights, privacy and dignity.” from the report
Activities and wellbeing
People were involved in planning safe activities inside the home and in the local community. Staff also supported people's social and emotional wellbeing.
“People were involved in planning safe activities within the service and within the local community.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How are the infection prevention and control arrangements described in this report being maintained now?
- 02How do you assess and manage infection risks when someone arrives for a short break or is discharged?
- 03How are people and their relatives involved in decisions about safe activities and outings?
- 04How do you support a person who needs to isolate while protecting their choice, privacy and emotional wellbeing?
- 05What current information is shared with staff about infection prevention, protective equipment and testing?
This was a targeted inspection of infection prevention and control measures only; the service was inspected but not rated and the other quality areas were not assessed. This explanation was written from the published report of 14 November 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, August 2018
Grindon Short Break Service was rated Good overall, with Outstanding caring and strong evidence of safe, personalised support.
Inspectors visited on three days between 30 April and 10 May 2018. The first visit was unannounced. They then made announced visits because no one was staying there on the first day. They spoke with six people, five relatives and staff, and checked care records, medicines records, staff files and safety records.
The home provides residential respite care for up to 10 people with different needs, including some people with learning disabilities. Inspectors found enough staff, safe medicines practice, suitable training and effective checks on risks, accidents and safeguarding.
People received personalised care based on their needs, communication styles and preferences. Staff supported health, eating and drinking needs and helped people take part in activities. People and relatives gave very positive feedback about the kindness, flexibility and commitment of staff.
The overall rating stayed Good. Safe, Effective, Responsive and Well-led stayed Good. Caring improved from Good to Outstanding.
Kind and personal care
Staff knew people well and adapted support to their communication styles, interests and preferences. Inspectors saw people looking relaxed and comfortable with staff.
“We found Grindon Short Break Service to be a service providing outstanding care that was personalised to each person's needs and preferences.” from the report
Support in a crisis
The home responded flexibly to emergency admissions and difficult situations. Staff offered emotional support and helped people keep links with family and find support for returning home.
“People in crisis often accessed the service as unplanned emergency admissions in need of emotional and practical support.” from the report
Safe care and medicines
Inspectors found enough staff and effective systems for medicines, safeguarding, accidents, emergencies and infection control.
“Medicines were managed safely at the service.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How will you assess my relative's needs before their first stay and check for changes before each later stay?
- 02How will staff understand and respond to my relative's communication style, including any gestures, symbols or pictures?
- 03What support can you provide if my relative needs specialist eating or drinking care?
- 04How do you manage emergency or short-notice respite admissions?
- 05How will you share information with us about my relative's stay, activities, nutrition and wellbeing?
This inspection looked at all five CQC questions and included visits, conversations with relatives and checks of care, medicines, staff, quality and safety records; additional evidence was received on 15 May 2018. This explanation was written from the published report of 2 August 2018 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 Short Break Service
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has held its Good rating throughout.
- November 2020Inspected but not ratedcurrent ratingSafe: Inspected but not rated
- August 2018Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- September 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- November 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- March 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 24 January 2011.
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.
Weigh the report against the rest
Fees, photos and reviews from families
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46 live-in carers within about an hour of Sunderland
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 £1,210 a week. 42 can care for a couple. 10 years' experience on average.
“Petty introduced herself to Mum every time she was caring for her and responded very quickly to Mum if she was distressed in the night.”
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.