CQC report explained · a nursing home
What the CQC found at Spencer Grove Care Home
Rated Outstanding: inspectors found the home performing exceptionally well.
- Safe?
- Good
- The home had effective safeguarding, risk management, recruitment, infection control and medicines systems. Most people said staffing was sufficient, but some reported occasional waits when staff were busy.
- Effective?
- Outstanding
- Staff provided highly skilled care and worked well with health professionals. Inspectors found strong support for nutrition, independence, mental wellbeing and end of life care.
- Caring?
- Good
- People and families described staff as kind and caring. Staff knew people well, respected their choices and protected their privacy, dignity and independence.
- Responsive?
- Good
- Care records were personalised and regularly updated, including communication needs. The home offered activities, end of life support and a system for handling complaints.
- Well-led?
- Outstanding
- Leadership was exceptional, with a strong culture of person-centred care and continuous improvement. Audits, staff feedback and partnerships with outside organisations were used to maintain and improve quality.
What inspectors found, February 2020
Rated Outstanding overall; inspectors found exceptionally effective care and leadership, with occasional waits when staff were busy.
This was an unannounced planned inspection on 4 and 13 November 2019. The inspectors spoke with people living at the home, relatives, health professionals and staff. They reviewed care records, medicines records, staff recruitment and supervision files, and management records.
The home was rated Good for Safe, Caring and Responsive. Inspectors found people were safe, medicines were managed properly, staff were kind and respectful, and care records were personalised and kept up to date. There were enough staff overall, although some people said they sometimes had to wait when staff were particularly busy.
Effective and Well-led were rated Outstanding. Inspectors found highly skilled staff, strong support from health professionals, creative ways to promote independence, and exceptional leadership focused on improving people's quality of life.
The overall rating was Outstanding. This means the inspectors judged the service to be performing exceptionally well overall. The previous overall rating was Good, published in March 2017.
Strong health support
The home identified changes in people's health promptly and involved health professionals when needed. Inspectors also found particularly strong end of life care.
“Our team place palliative patients here who have complex needs. They are managed well with professionalism and compassion.” from the report
Promoting independence
Staff adapted equipment, the environment and activities to help people remain independent and have purpose in their daily lives.
“The culture of encouraging people to be independent was clearly embedded.” from the report
Good nutrition support
People were offered choice and support with meals. The home used monitoring systems and adapted equipment to reduce risks linked to dehydration, malnutrition and swallowing difficulties.
“There was a creative and effective system in place to reduce the risk of dehydration and malnutrition.” from the report
Kind and respectful care
Staff knew people well and supported their privacy, dignity, choices and personal preferences.
“We observed staff greet people, pass the time of day with them and involve them in their conversations.” from the report
Exceptional leadership
Inspectors found a clear commitment to learning, improvement and person-centred care across the staff team.
“It was clear the vision and values of the senior leadership team and the registered manager were embedded in all the staff team.” from the report
Occasional waits at busy times
minorSome people said they sometimes had to wait for help, particularly in the mornings when staff were helping people get up. Most people and staff still said staffing was sufficient.
“Sometimes when they're really busy and [person] needs the toilet, [person] has to wait.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure people do not have to wait for help with the toilet or getting up during busy mornings?
- 02How do you decide whether there are enough staff on each shift, and how do you cover staff shortfalls?
- 03What activities and outings would be available for my relative, and how would you respond if they wanted more trips?
- 04How would you support my relative's communication needs, food preferences and independence?
- 05How would you involve our family in care reviews and decisions about end of life care?
This was an unannounced planned inspection of the care home, including the premises and care provided; the report also notes that the provider operated a separate domiciliary care service for two people in attached retirement apartments. This explanation was written from the published report of 7 February 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, March 2017
Spencer Grove Care Home was rated Good; inspectors found safe, kind and personalised care, with a less consistent lunch experience between floors.
This was an unannounced inspection on 27 July 2016. At the time, 58 people lived in the home, which can care for up to 68 older adults. The inspection team spoke with people, relatives and staff, observed care, and checked care records, medicines, recruitment, training, complaints and quality checks.
Inspectors found that all five areas were rated Good: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. Staff understood people's needs, managed risks, gave medicines as prescribed, and supported people's health, choices, privacy and relationships.
The report describes personalised care plans, activities for individual interests, dementia support and a welcoming approach to visitors. It also noted that lunch was more relaxed and enjoyable on the ground floor than on the top floor.
At the previous inspection in January 2014, the provider was fully compliant in all areas inspected. This report does not describe any change in rating from that inspection.
Kind and respectful care
Staff were observed offering comfort, communicating well and helping people at their own pace. They supported privacy, choice and independence.
“We observed staff delivering care which met people's individual needs and which supported them in a respectful and appropriate way.” from the report
Personalised support
Care plans recorded people's preferences, communication methods, hobbies and personal history. Staff used this information to support meaningful activities and comfort.
“The care plans included people's social care plans.” from the report
Safe medicines practice
Inspectors found medicines were stored securely and given and recorded as prescribed. Staff had received medicines training.
“People's medicines were administered safely and as prescribed by their GP.” from the report
Staff training and support
Staff received training for dementia, end of life care and other needs. They also had regular supervision, appraisals and team meetings.
“This meant that staff had been supported to deliver effective care to meet people's needs.” from the report
Family involvement
Relatives were involved in care planning and welcomed to visit at any time. The home also supported contact through technology such as Skype.
“Families and friends were welcomed to the home at all times.” from the report
Different mealtime experience
minorInspectors noted that lunch was more relaxed and more of an occasion on the ground floor than on the top floor. Families may want to ask how the home keeps mealtimes equally enjoyable for everyone.
“However, lunch for people on the ground floor was more relaxed and more of an occasion than for those on the top floor.” from the report
- 01How do you make sure people on the top floor receive the same enjoyable and social mealtime experience as people on the ground floor?
- 02How will you assess and update care plans when a person's health, communication or personal preferences change?
- 03What dementia training do staff receive, and how is it used in daily care?
- 04How do you involve relatives in care planning and reviews?
- 05How do you use call-bell response information to decide staffing levels and staff deployment?
This was an unannounced inspection covering all five areas: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. This explanation was written from the published report of 28 March 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 Spencer Grove Care Home
2 rated inspections over 3 years: the service has improved, from Good to Outstanding.
- February 2020Outstandingcurrent ratingup from GoodSafe: GoodEffective: OutstandingCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Outstanding
- March 2017GoodSafe: GoodEffective: GoodCaring: GoodResponsive: GoodWell-led: Good
- October 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- April 2013
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2012
Report published without a new overall rating.
- January 2011
Registered with the Care Quality Commission on 17 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
62 live-in carers within about an hour of Derbyshire
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 £1,010 to £1,260 a week. 51 can care for a couple. 12 years' experience on average.
“Ernest is an amazing professional carer who delivers care from the heart.”
“We particularly appreciate the companionship Dawn gives in the evenings when she plays cards and Scrabble with my mother.”
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.