CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Harton Grange
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks, staffing, medicines, infection control and accidents were managed through established systems.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs, health, nutrition and choices were assessed and reviewed. Staff had suitable training and worked with health professionals.
- Caring?
- Outstanding
- Staff knew people very well and treated them with compassion, dignity and respect. Inspectors saw people being listened to, offered choices and supported to remain independent.
- Responsive?
- Outstanding
- Care was tailored to people's histories, preferences and needs. The home offered many individual and group activities, community links and support to maintain relationships.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Inspectors found exceptional leadership, a strong person-centred culture and effective quality checks. People, relatives, staff and professionals were involved in developing the service.
What inspectors found, March 2020
Rated Outstanding; inspectors found exceptionally caring, responsive and well-led care, with safe and effective care rated Good.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 14 January 2020. Inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, staff and visiting professionals. They observed care and reviewed care plans, medicines records, staff files and management records.
The overall rating was Outstanding. Caring, responsive and well-led were rated Outstanding. Safe and effective were rated Good. Inspectors found kind, personalised care, strong activities, good communication with health professionals and effective leadership.
The rating improved from Good at the previous inspection, published on 15 July 2017. Caring and responsive improved from Good to Outstanding. Safe and effective remained Good.
Person-centred care
Staff understood people's personal histories, interests and ways of communicating. This helped people feel valued and supported.
“Staff talk to you, get to know your previous life and what you did for a living.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Inspectors saw warm, respectful interactions. Staff responded quickly when people were distressed and supported their dignity and independence.
“They supported people in a very patient and attentive manner.” from the report
Activities and community links
The home offered a wide range of meaningful activities, including trips, creative work and projects with local schools and colleges.
“There was an extensive programme of individual, group activities and engagement with the community.” from the report
Strong leadership
The home had a long-established, motivated staff team and effective systems for checking quality and making improvements.
“The quality assurance process was highly effective.” from the report
Support for independence
Staff encouraged people to make choices and remain as independent as possible. Inspectors gave examples of people becoming more active and involved.
“There was a strong culture of empowering people.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you tailor activities and daily support to my relative's interests, history and communication needs?
- 02How often would my relative's care plan be reviewed, and how would our family be involved?
- 03How do you check that medicines are given safely and that staff remain competent to handle them?
- 04What support is available for people living with dementia, including help to move around the building and stay engaged?
- 05How would you discuss and record my relative's wishes for end-of-life care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection of the care provided and the premises, covering all five CQC questions. This explanation was written from the published report of 4 March 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, July 2017
Rated Good; inspectors found kind, personalised care, but found a mismatch between two medicines stocks and records.
The inspection was unannounced and took place on 16 February 2017. Two inspectors and an expert by experience spoke with people, relatives, staff and a visiting health professional. They also checked records, medicines, staffing, training, care plans and the home's quality checks.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough staff, thorough recruitment checks, trained staff, respectful care, personalised plans and a wide range of activities. People were supported with food, drinks, healthcare, choices and communication.
There was one medicines recording concern. The stock of two people's medicines did not match the amounts recorded on the February 2017 medicines records. The manager said an audit would be completed. Other sampled medicines were correct, and the report did not record a breach of regulations.
The home was rated Good overall, and it remained Good after the previous inspection in December 2014. This means inspectors found the service met the relevant standards at the time of this inspection.
Staffing and recruitment
Inspectors found that recruitment checks were completed before staff started work. Staffing levels were assessed against people's needs, and staff were visible with call buzzers answered promptly.
“Recruitment procedures were thorough and all necessary checks were made before new staff commenced employment.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported them patiently. Inspectors saw people being treated with dignity, given choices and helped to remain as independent as possible.
“People were supported by kind and attentive staff, in a respectful dignified manner.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans included people's health needs, preferences, communication methods and daily routines. Inspectors found these plans were reviewed regularly.
“Each person had care plans which were personal to them.” from the report
Activities and interests
The home offered varied activities, including music, games, crafts, animals, gardening and community links. Activities were adapted for people living with dementia and for people with communication needs.
“The registered provider had an activity planner with an extensive range of different activities and leisure opportunities available for people.” from the report
Management and quality checks
The manager worked alongside staff and held regular meetings and checks on care, nutrition, accidents and incidents. People and relatives were asked for their views.
“We found a robust quality assurance process which included audits on areas such as care plans, nutrition, accidents and incidents.” from the report
Medicine stock records
needs fixingThe stock of two people's medicines did not match the amounts signed for on the February 2017 medicines records. The manager said an audit would be completed, but this is worth checking before choosing the home.
“We found the stock of two people's medicines did not reflect the amount signed for on the February 2017 MAR.” from the report
- 01What was the outcome of the audit into the two medicines stock discrepancies?
- 02What checks are now made to ensure medicine stocks match the medicines administration records?
- 03How are care plans reviewed when a person's needs, preferences or communication methods change?
- 04Which activities are available for someone living with dementia, and how are they adapted to their interests and abilities?
- 05How are relatives involved in care planning, meetings and raising concerns?
This was an unannounced inspection that assessed all five CQC areas; the home remained Good in every area, as at the previous inspection in December 2014. This explanation was written from the published report of 15 July 2017 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 Harton Grange
3 rated inspections over 5 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- March 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: OutstandingResponsive: OutstandingWell-led: Outstanding
- July 2017Goodstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- March 2015GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- January 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- September 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 15 February 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.
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39 live-in carers within about an hour of South Tyneside
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 £1,140 a week. 34 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.