The Grove

Updated 4 June 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

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

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

The Grove 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 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 the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We met the three people currently living at the home and, spoke on the telephone with one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager and four support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included the three people’s care and medication records currently living at the home and, the transition records for another person moving in soon. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with relatives and professionals who regularly visited the service.

Updated 4 June 2021

About the service

The Grove is a residential care home providing personal care for up to five people aged 18 years and over who are living with learning disabilities and/or autism. At the time of the inspection three people were living at the home with another person planning to move in.

The Grove is a large, adapted house situated in a residential area, close to transport links, shops and open spaces. It has its own private enclosed gardens which all people can use if they require quiet time or a safe space.

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

People were observed to be happy and supported by a knowledgeable staff team who knew them well and who were recruited safely. The service provided flexible care and support in line with people's needs, wishes and choices.

Some accidents and incidents were analysed to learn lessons and improve outcomes for people. We found some behavioural incident records lacked detail. There was an inconsistent approach to the management of debrief sessions with staff to support their reflection and learning from incidents. We have made a recommendation about this.

The provider and registered manager monitored quality, acted quickly when change was needed, sought people's views, and planned ongoing improvements to the services. Audits of incident records had not found the inconsistent approach to how staff recorded and reflected on their practices when managing behaviours that were challenging. We have made a recommendation about this.

Medicines were managed safely. Enough staff were working at the home to ensure people received safe and effective levels of care. Risks to people’s health were identified and managed safely by a staff team who understood their responsibilities to protect people from discrimination, abuse, and avoidable harm. Staff felt well supported by the management team and received effective training, competency assessments, supervision and appraisal.

People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff knew people’s interests and preferences. People were supported to have a voice, be independent and take positive risks. People were supported to access a wide range of community activities of their choice, which enriched the quality of their lives. People were supported to have regular health check-ups and maintain relationships with people close to them.

Staff, in line with current national guidance for COVID-19 and the provider’s infection control policy, maintained high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in the home.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The service used some restrictive intervention practices as a last resort, these were used in line with people’s individual positive behaviour support plans and staff training.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture. The model of care and support provided to people living at the home maximised their choice, control and independence. People were involved in all aspects of their care and future planning. Care provided at the home was centred around the person and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People moving into the home had their own individually tailored, person centred transition plan. The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management team and support staff ensured people lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 23 October 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as the service had not been rated.

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 COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.