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  • Care home

Archived: Layston Grove Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Keen Avenue, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 9SU (01763) 274327

Provided and run by:
Oakdale Care Homes No. 2 Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See new profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 17 March 2021

The inspection

This was a focused inspection to check whether the provider had made the required improvements following the last inspection. We will assess all of the key questions at the next comprehensive inspection of the service.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was undertaken by two inspectors and an assistant inspector. The assistant inspector made calls to relatives and staff.

Service and service type

Layston Grove Care Home is a ‘care home’. 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.

The service had a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave five minutes notice so we could clarify the services COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) practice for visiting professionals and identify persons who were shielding so we could respond accordingly.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We did not request a provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. We had requested information from the provider prior to the inspection and this information was used as part of the inspection plan.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven members of staff and the registered manager. We spoke with three people who used the service and received feedback from five relatives. We spoke with visiting health care professionals. We contacted the local authority for their feedback.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 17 March 2021

About the service

Layston Grove Care Home is a care home providing accommodation for up to 66 people older people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were 26 people living at the home.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

At the last inspection, the service was failing to ensure people’s safety was promoted and did not have effective governance systems. As a result, there was found to be a breach of regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment).

At this inspection we found that the required improvements had been found and systems implemented to address the shortfalls had been effective.

People felt safe and told us the staff were kind and friendly. Relatives felt the staff team were very good. People’s safety and welfare was monitored. If an incident or concern arose, the management team identified and resolved it. Incident, events and unexplained injuries were recorded and investigated. Where needed, incidents were reported appropriately.

People were treated with dignity and respect. People and staff had developed positive relationships and staff knew people well. Care plans were detailed giving staff the appropriate information to meet people’s needs.

Records were reviewed to help ensure people’s needs had been met. Staffing was monitored to help ensure staffing numbers were effective.

Staff felt they had enough training and support to do their role and found the leadership of the management team to be good. Training relating to infection control and COVID-19 had been delivered. Staff knew how to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. However, we found that staff did not always work safely in relation to COVID-19. The registered manager advised that additional training was scheduled following the inspection to address this.

Medicines were now managed safely, and these were checked through an audit system.

Governance systems to monitor and identify concerns had been developed and these had been effective as the issues found at the last inspection had been addressed.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 15 May 2019) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider sent us an action plan stating how they would make the required improvements.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 09 April 2019. A breach of legal requirement was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led which contain those requirements.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Please see the safe section of this full report. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Layston Grove Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.