Bluegrove House

Updated 12 April 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 28 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 12 April 2022

This unannounced inspection took place on 5 and 10 December 2018. Bluegrove House provides accommodation, personal care and support for up to 48 people. At this inspection there were 41 people living at the service. Care and support was provided across three floors for people, some of whom were living with dementia. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

At our previous inspection on 28 April and 3 May 2016 we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There was a new registered manager who was employed at the service in January 2018. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff responded to people’s needs in a way that showed they mattered. Staff celebrated people’s birthdays and each person had a day where they were made to feel extra special.

Staff had creatively organised activities that met people’s preferences and needs and helped them to develop new interests. Staff celebrated cultural events and invited and welcomed people using the service, relatives and people living in the local community to take part. Voluntary organisations actively supported people to learn new skills and knowledge.

Each person had an assessment of their care and support needs. These were developed into care plans that guided staff on how to support people effectively.

People had access to healthcare services. A GP and a specialist physician visited the service. Staff sought advice and treatment from the health professionals when people’s needs changed.

Systems in place ensured people were protected from the risk of abuse and harm. Staff took appropriate actions to report and manage abuse safely. People had an assessment in place that identified and managed potential risks.

The registered manager used a dependency tool to assess the amount of staff required to care for people safely. Safer recruitment processes were followed.

There were established systems for the administration, ordering, disposal and management of medicines that staff were familiar with and followed.

Staff treated people in a caring way and were kind and compassionate. Staff supported people in a way that protected their dignity and privacy.

People had enough to eat and drink. The menu was displayed around the service and people said the quality of the meals was of a high standard and tasty.

Staff were supported by the registered manager through regular training, supervision and appraisal.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff understood how to support people who were unable to make decisions for themselves. People provided staff their consent to receive care and support.

There was an established system for people to make complaints about the service if they were unhappy with their care.

People received end of life care and support when required by staff who were trained to provide palliative care.

The registered manager supported staff who were confident in their role. There were established systems in place for monitoring, review and driving improvements of the service. Staff had developed working relationships with health, social care and voluntary organisations.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.