Background to this inspection
Updated
7 February 2020
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.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted on one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Spencer Grove is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The registered provider also operated a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in the registered providers retirement properties.
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
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams. We used the information the provider sent us in the 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 this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with nine people who used the service, two relatives and two visiting health care professionals about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with sixteen members of staff including the four members of the registered providers senior management team. The registered manager, administration manager, two nurses, four staff from the care team and five staff from the activity, catering, housekeeping and maintenance team.
We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and random sample of medication records. We looked at three 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 requested further information from the registered manager to validate the evidence found. This was received, and the information was used as part of our inspection.
Updated
7 February 2020
About the service
Spencer Grove is a care home providing personal and nursing care to 51 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 68 people. The registered provider also operates a domiciliary care service.
The domiciliary care service offers care to people who live in the registered provider’s retirement apartments, attached to Spencer Grove. There were two people using this service. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. The care home is purpose built, split over three floors.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s well-being was at the core of the service. The exceptional leadership ensured the vision and culture of the senior management team and registered manager was embedded within all the staff team. There was an open and inclusive culture at the home, people were actively encouraged to be independent and have purpose and meaning in their lives. There was a culture of continuous improvement with a clear focus on ensuring any changes enhanced the quality of the service people received.
People were safe. There were enough staff employed to meet people’s needs and staff were recruited safely. Medicines were appropriately managed. The home was clean, and the premises and equipment were suitably maintained.
People received excellent, effective care and support from a highly skilled staff team. Staff communicated effectively, and people were supported to access other health care professionals as they were needed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were caring and kind. People were treated with dignity and respect. Staff clearly knew people well and respected people’s individuality. People were encouraged to retain their independence.
Care records were detailed, person centred and reviewed and updated at regular intervals. Information regarding people’s communication needs was recorded as well as, where appropriate, peoples end of life support needs. A range of activities were provided for people. There was a system in place to handle complaints.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 27 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.