Archived: Heather Grange

Updated 19 July 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

We visited Heather Grange on 20 and 21 June 2017. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector, a specialist professional advisor in the care of people living with dementia and expert by experience on the first day and one adult social care inspector on the second day. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form the provider completes to give some key information about the home, what the home does well and improvements they plan to make. The provider returned the PIR within the agreed timeframe and we took the information provided into account when we made the judgements in this report.

In preparation for our visit, we also reviewed information that we held about the home such as notifications (events which happened in the home that the provider is required to tell us about) and information that had been sent to us by other agencies.

During our inspection visit, we spent time observing how staff provided support for people to help us better understand their experiences of the care they received. We spoke with ten people living in the home, one relative, four members of staff, the registered manager and the regional manager. We also spoke with a healthcare professional who had regular contact with the home.

We had a tour of the premises and looked at a range of documents and written records including seven people's care records, three staff recruitment files and staff training records. We also looked at information relating to the administration of medicines, a sample of policies and procedures, meeting minutes and records relating to the auditing and monitoring of service provision.

Updated 19 July 2017

Heather Grange is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to a maximum of 70 people. The home is divided into three suites known as Village, Woodlands and Garden. Village suite provides care for older people with personal care needs and Woodlands and Garden suite provides care for older people living with dementia. People are provided with a single room and an ensuite facility. At time of the inspection there were 66 people accommodated in the home.

At the last inspection in January 2015 we rated the service as good. At this inspection we found the service remained good.

People living in the home consistently told us they felt safe and staff treated them well. People were supported by enough skilled staff so their care and support could be provided at a time and pace convenient for them. Appropriate recruitment procedures were followed to ensure prospective staff were suitable to work in the home. Safeguarding adults’ procedures were in place and staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse. Potential risks to people's safety and welfare had been assessed and preventive measures had been put in place where required. People's medicines were managed appropriately and according to the records seen, people received their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.

Staff had the knowledge and skills required to meet people's individual needs effectively. They completed an induction programme when they started work and they were up to date with the provider's mandatory training. 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. There were appropriate arrangements in place to support people to have a varied and healthy diet. People had access to a GP and other health care professionals when they needed them. A visiting healthcare professional provided us with positive feedback about the service.

Staff treated people in a respectful and dignified manner and people's privacy was respected. People living in the home had been consulted about their care needs and had been involved in the care planning process. We observed people were happy, comfortable and relaxed with staff. Care plans and risk assessments were person centred and provided guidance for staff on how to meet people’s needs and preferences. There were established arrangements in place to ensure the care plans were reviewed and updated regularly.

The service was responsive to people’s individual needs and preferences. People were supported to follow their interests and take part in a wide range of social activities. The activities were designed to stimulate conversation, promote interaction with others, maintain personal interests and to have enjoyment. People, families and staff had regular meetings to discuss the operation of the home. They were also invited to be members of forums which focused on specific issues such as safeguarding and food.

Each person's needs were assessed and care records had personalised information about how to meet them. Care was focused on people's wishes and preferences and people were supported to remain active and independent. Staff felt the information available to them enabled them to offer care in the way each person wanted.

People were provided with a safe, effective, caring and responsive service that was well led. The registered manager provided strong, effective leadership to her team. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and ensure people received safe and effective care. These included seeking and responding to feedback from people in relation to the standard of care.