CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Grovewood Residential Home
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
What inspectors found, April 2022
Rated Requires Improvement; inspectors found kind care and enough staff, but medicines, records, infection control and oversight were not reliable.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 18 February 2022. Inspectors looked only at Safe and Well-led, because concerns had been raised about medicines, safeguarding, infection control and staffing. They reviewed care, medicine, staff and management records, spoke with people, staff, relatives and managers, and observed care.
Inspectors found problems with medicines, care records, risk monitoring, infection control and the systems used to check quality. They found a controlled medicines discrepancy and missing information for some medicines used when needed. Records did not always show that people received the care they needed, and some infection control checks were incomplete.
There were enough staff on duty and recruitment checks were carried out safely. People, relatives and staff were mostly positive about the care, and relatives said staff communicated with families. However, the overall rating fell from Good to Requires Improvement because the inspection found risks and breaches in safe care and governance.
Kind staff
People and relatives said staff were friendly and kind. Relatives felt their loved ones were well looked after.
“Care staff were friendly, and treated people kindly.” from the report
Staffing and recruitment
Inspectors saw enough staff on duty to support people. Recruitment checks were carried out safely.
“There were enough staff on duty to support people, and staff were recruited safely.” from the report
Family communication
Relatives said staff communicated with families regularly and that they could contact staff about problems.
“We were told by the relatives we spoke with that the care staff communicated with families regularly.” from the report
PPE and testing
Inspectors were assured that PPE was being used safely and that testing was available for people and staff.
“We were assured that the provider was using PPE effectively and safely.” from the report
Medicines
seriousMedicines were not always managed safely. Inspectors found a controlled medicines discrepancy and missing information for some medicines used when needed.
“Medicines used as when required did not have information appropriately recorded to support their safe use.” from the report
Risk and care records
seriousMonitoring charts and care plans contained gaps and inconsistencies. This meant inspectors could not be sure that people's risks, skin care and emergency arrangements were properly managed.
“There were some gaps and inconsistencies in people's monitoring information.” from the report
Infection control
needs fixingInspectors found unsuitable waste bins and significant gaps in temperature checks linked to COVID-19 guidance. They were not assured that the home could always prevent or manage infection outbreaks effectively.
“We were not assured that the provider was making sure infection outbreaks can be effectively prevented or managed” from the report
Quality checks
seriousThe provider's new auditing system was not always completed and did not reliably identify problems. This included issues with medicines, infection control, COVID-19 arrangements and care records.
“The audits we looked at in regard to medicines, IPC, COVID-19 and care documents were not a true reflection of our findings.” from the report
- 01What has changed to make sure controlled medicines and medicines used when needed are recorded and checked safely?
- 02How are care plans, pressure area relief charts and emergency evacuation plans now kept accurate and up to date?
- 03How are temperature checks, waste bins and other infection control arrangements being monitored?
- 04How often are the new audits completed, who checks them, and how are problems followed up?
- 05What progress has been made on the action plan sent to the CQC after this inspection?
This was an unannounced focused inspection of Safe and Well-led only; the other key question ratings were carried forward from the previous inspection. This explanation was written from the published report of 6 April 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, September 2021
Grovewood Residential Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, caring and well-managed support, with a small record-keeping issue addressed during the visit.
This was an unannounced focused inspection on 20 August 2021. Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience spoke with five people, five relatives, four staff members and one professional. They also checked care records, medicines records, recruitment files, training information and quality checks.
The home was rated Good overall, with Good ratings for Safe, Effective and Well-led. Inspectors found safe recruitment, trained staff, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines management and appropriate infection control. People and relatives gave consistently positive feedback, and inspectors saw caring, patient support.
The inspection followed an earlier Requires Improvement rating and two breaches of regulations. The provider had completed an action plan, and inspectors found enough improvement for the home to be no longer in breach. This inspection did not assess Caring or Responsive, so those previous ratings were carried forward.
Caring support
Inspectors saw support that was caring, responsive and patient. People appeared comfortable with staff, and positive relationships had developed.
“We observed support being provided in the home and saw that this was done in a caring, responsive and patient manner.” from the report
Safer recruitment and staff support
Staff had criminal record checks before starting work and received induction, training, supervision and regular practice checks.
“A robust recruitment and selection process was in place and staff had been subject to criminal record checks before starting work at the service.” from the report
Person-centred planning
Care plans included information about each person’s needs and wishes. People’s choices, beliefs and rights were respected.
“Assessments were unique to an individual and contained information and guidance specific to each person’s needs and wishes.” from the report
Positive management
The manager used audits, feedback and learning from the COVID-19 pandemic to improve the service and monitor people’s health.
“The registered manger had implemented a number of new processes to ensure the quality of the service was of a good standard.” from the report
Injury-monitoring records
minorBody-map records did not always show how injuries were being monitored as they healed. The manager explained that monitoring was in place and acted on the documentation issue immediately.
“However, the documentation did not always reflect the monitoring of the healing processes.” from the report
Fire door and environmental work
minorThe home was still updating fire doors and parts of the environment to maintain required safety standards. Ask what work remained after the inspection and whether it has been completed.
“We were able to see evidence that the provider was in the process of updating fire doors and the environment to ensure they maintained the safety standards required.” from the report
- 01How are injuries and their healing now recorded and checked?
- 02What fire door or environmental work remained after the inspection, and has it now been completed?
- 03How often are medicines practice checks and audits carried out, and what happens if a problem is found?
- 04How will our relative and family be involved in care reviews and decisions about healthcare?
- 05How are staff training, supervision and practice checks kept up to date?
This was a focused inspection of Safe, Effective and Well-led, including infection control; Caring and Responsive were not assessed and their previous ratings were carried forward. This explanation was written from the published report of 17 September 2021 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 Grovewood Residential Home
7 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has slipped, from Good to Requires improvement.
- April 2022Requires improvementcurrent ratingdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Requires improvement
- September 2021GoodSafe: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2021Inspected but not ratedSafe: Inspected but not rated
- May 2019Requires improvementup from InadequateSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2018Inadequatestayed InadequateSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- April 2018Inadequatedown from Requires improvementSafe: InadequateEffective: InadequateCaring: Requires improvementResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Inadequate
- December 2017Requires improvementdown from GoodSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- November 2016GoodSafe: GoodEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- August 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 28 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
How to read CQC ratings and reports
What to check when you visit
40 live-in carers within about an hour of Wirral
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 £980 to £1,230 a week. 37 can care for a couple. 8 years' experience on average.
“It was clear that she genuinely cared and her warm approach really helped put our minds at ease.”
“He developed a close affinity with Terence, spending time talking with him before he retired to bed and looking after his needs during 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.