CQC report explained · a residential care home
What the CQC found at Old Grange
Rated Good: inspectors found the home performing well and meeting their expectations.
- Safe?
- Good
- Inspectors found enough staff, suitable risk assessments, safe medicines management, infection control measures and appropriate checks of the building and equipment. Staff understood how to recognise and report abuse.
- Effective?
- Good
- People's needs were assessed before they moved in, and staff had training, supervision and appraisals. People were supported with food, healthcare, mental capacity decisions and choices about their care.
- Caring?
- Good
- Staff were described as kind and supportive. People were involved in decisions about their care, and staff promoted privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care was personalised and information was provided in an easy-read format. Staff supported people to maintain relationships, pursue interests and take part in activities at the home and in the community.
- Well-led?
- Good
- The home had clear management arrangements, regular meetings and quality checks. The registered manager and staff worked with healthcare professionals and used action plans to address shortfalls.
What inspectors found, August 2019
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and person-centred care across all five areas.
This was an unannounced, planned inspection on 23 July 2019. One inspector observed care, spoke with three people, three staff members and the registered manager, and checked care records, medicines records, audits and other documents.
The inspectors found people were safe and comfortable. Staff were kind, knew people well, respected privacy and dignity, and supported choice, independence, healthcare, meals and activities in the home and local community.
The home was rated Good in every area: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This was the same overall rating and the same rating for every area as at the previous inspection, published on 22 December 2016.
People felt safe
People told inspectors they felt safe and comfortable. Staff understood safeguarding and knew how to report concerns.
“People showed and told us they were happy living at Old Grange, they felt safe and comfortable with the staff team.” from the report
Kind and respectful staff
Staff knew people's needs and preferences and supported them with reassurance, privacy and dignity.
“Staff fully respected and promoted people's privacy and dignity. Personal care was offered discreetly and carried out in private.” from the report
Choice and independence
People were involved in their care and were supported to make choices, learn skills and do more for themselves.
“The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion.” from the report
Community activities
Staff supported people to go shopping, take walks, join activities and maintain important relationships.
“Staff encouraged and helped people go shopping, go for walks and take part in activities both at service and in the local community to promote people's social inclusion.” from the report
Regular quality checks
The registered manager and provider used regular audits, reports and action plans to monitor the service and make improvements.
“The provider had a quality assurance system in place to ensure that staff continued to give high-quality care.” from the report
Inspectors raised no specific concerns in this report.
- 01How would you support my relative's particular communication needs, including the use of easy-read information?
- 02How would you involve my relative in planning and reviewing their care?
- 03What activities and community opportunities would be available for my relative?
- 04How do you check that medicines are given correctly and that staff remain competent to administer them?
- 05How would you support my relative to maintain contact with family and other important people?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five CQC questions; inspectors observed care, spoke with three people and checked two people's care records, medicines records and quality records. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 August 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.
What inspectors found, December 2016
Rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a small medicines-record issue to address.
This was an unannounced inspection on 5 December 2016. The inspector observed care, spoke with people, staff, the manager and relatives, and reviewed care, medicines, training and quality records.
The home was rated Good in all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Inspectors found enough skilled staff, safe medicines arrangements, suitable training, kind relationships and care that reflected people's needs and choices.
There were two points to improve. Records did not always show how many tablets had been given when variable doses were prescribed. The dining table could not seat everyone together, although the manager had identified this and planned to obtain a larger table.
The report says problems found at the May 2016 inspection had been addressed. Family communication had improved, maintenance issues had been dealt with and quality checks were more robust.
Kind and respectful care
Inspectors saw warm relationships and respectful support. Staff promoted people's dignity, privacy and independence.
“People were treated with warmth, kindness and respect.” from the report
Safe staffing and recruitment
People and relatives said there were enough staff. Recruitment records checked by inspectors contained the required documents.
“Safe and effective recruitment practices were followed to make sure that all staff were of good character and suitable for the roles they performed at the service.” from the report
Personalised support
Staff knew people's routines, likes, dislikes and personal circumstances. Care plans gave staff clear guidance and were updated when needs changed.
“Staff were knowledgeable about people's preferred routines, likes and dislikes, backgrounds and personal circumstances” from the report
Improved family communication
The home introduced a quarterly newsletter and reported regular email and telephone contact with relatives after concerns at the previous inspection.
“This showed us that the registered manager had made significant improvement in this area.” from the report
Stronger oversight
Inspectors found that earlier maintenance issues had been dealt with and quality audits were more robust.
“At this inspection we noted that these areas had been addressed appropriately and that the system of audits was more robust.” from the report
Dining table size
minorThe dining table could seat only four people, so it could not accommodate everyone and staff for a shared meal. The manager had identified the issue and planned to source a larger table.
“We noted that the dining table only had capacity to seat four people, which was not appropriate to seat all the people who used the service” from the report
- 01What system is now used to record the number of tablets given when a medicine has a variable dose?
- 02Has the dining table been replaced so that everyone can eat together if they wish?
- 03How will relatives receive newsletters, updates and information about activities and holidays?
- 04How often are care plans and risk assessments reviewed when someone's needs change?
- 05What activities and day services are currently available for each person?
This was an unannounced inspection of the overall service and all five CQC questions; the report also compares findings with the previous inspection on 09 May 2016. This explanation was written from the published report of 22 December 2016 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 Old Grange
4 rated inspections over 4 years: the service has improved, from Requires improvement to Good.
- August 2019Goodcurrent ratingstayed GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- December 2016Goodup from Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- June 2016Requires improvementstayed Requires improvementSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- August 2015Requires improvementSafe: Requires improvementEffective: Requires improvementCaring: GoodResponsive: Requires improvementWell-led: Requires improvement
- July 2014
Report published without a new overall rating.
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- February 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 6 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.
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Most charge £980 to £1,300 a week. 82 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
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