Highgrove Rest Home

Updated 18 January 2022

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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Highgrove 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority commissioning team. 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 took this into account when we inspected Highgrove and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke about Highgrove with three people, five staff and the registered manager. We walked around the building to carry out a visual check. We did this to ensure Highgrove was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live. We looked at records related to the management of the service. We checked care and medication records, staffing and recruitment files and quality and leadership oversight systems.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We reviewed the home’s quality assurance systems, care documentation, rotas and infection prevention records.

Updated 18 January 2022

About the service

Highgrove Rest Home Ltd is a care home providing personal care to 28 people who live with dementia and mental health conditions. The service can support up to 30 adults and provides multiple communal spaces for people’s comfort and enjoyment. Highgrove Rest Home Ltd will be referred to as Highgrove within this report.

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

The registered manager created risk assessments to guide staff in reducing the risk of unsafe care. Staff followed strict infection control measures to ensure a clean, safe environment. One person said, “[Staff] have done very well in keeping the virus out. When I go out, I like to wear a mask and they give me one every time.” The registered manager had safe systems to effectively manage people’s medicines. The provider had sufficient staffing levels to meet people’s needs.

The registered manager ensured staff had extensive training to develop and maintain their skills. 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. The registered manager sought and documented each person’s decision-specific consent to care. Staff assessed their nutritional needs and developed care planning to meet their food preferences.

The registered manager and staff created a kind, compassionate and friendly living environment for people’s wellbeing. People consistently told us they were treated as individuals and staff respected their human rights. A person stated, “The staff are lovely. They know me and how I like things done.”

The management team discussed and developed care planning with each person to tailor support to their individual needs. Staff worked hard during the pandemic to ensure people lived in a stimulating environment that met their social needs. The registered manager provided information throughout the home to help people and their relatives understand how they can raise concerns.

The management team created a caring and welcoming atmosphere to increase everyone’s wellbeing. The management team had good oversight of quality assurance to ensure everyone lived and worked in a safe environment.

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 24/03/2020 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 17/03/2018.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the service’s registration date.

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.

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.