Hodge Hill Grange

Updated 27 August 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place. As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

This inspection took place on 11 August 2020 and was announced. The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control

Updated 27 August 2020

About the service:

Hodge Hill Grange is a care home that provides nursing and personal care for up to 52 people within one large adapted building, which is divided into three units. It specialises in the care of people living with dementia and older people requiring general nursing care. At the time of our inspection, 43 people were living at the home.

People's experience of using this service:

• The administration of people’s topical medicines was not managed as effectively.

• People’s relatives and staff continued to express mixed views on staffing levels at the service.

• Staff training needs had not been consistently monitored and addressed.

• The formal mental capacity assessments we reviewed were not decision-specific, and contradictory information had been recorded about people’s mental capacity.

• The provider followed safe recruitment practices to ensure prospective staff were suitable to work with people.

• The provider had systems and procedures in place to manage the risks associated with the premises, care equipment in use and people’s individual needs.

• Staff understood the need to report any abuse concerns without delay.

• The provider took steps to protect people, staff and visitors from the risk of infections.

• New permanent and agency staff received an induction to help them understand the service and their roles.

• People’s needs and wishes were assessed before they moved into the home, to form the basis of initial care planning and risk assessment.

• People were encouraged and supported to make choices about what they ate and drank. Any complex needs or risk associated with their eating and drinking were assessed and managed.

• The provider had taken some measures to create a dementia-friendly environment, and had plans in place to further adapt the home to people’s needs.

• Staff and management worked with a range of healthcare professionals to ensure people’s health needs were monitored and met.

• Staff adopted a kind and compassionate approach to their work, and had taken the time to get to know people well.

• Staff recognised the need to promote people’s equality and value their diversity.

• People’s care plans were individualised and promoted a person-centred approach.

• People had the opportunity to participate in social and recreational activities, and the registered manager had plans to develop this aspect of the service.

• The people and relatives we spoke with were clear how to raise concerns and complaints about the service.

• People’s needs and choices regarding their end of life care were assessed and addressed.

• The provider had quality assurance systems and processes in place to monitor the quality and safety of people’s care. However, these had not enabled them to address the shortfalls in quality we identified during our inspection.

• People’s relatives and staff spoke positively about their relationship with the registered manager, who they found approachable and willing to listen.

We found the service met the requirements for 'Good' in two areas, and 'Requires improvement' in three other areas. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection: At the last comprehensive inspection, the service was rated as 'Requires improvement' (inspection report published on 5 June 2017). At this inspection, the overall rating of the service remained the same.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the service's previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any information of concern is received, we may inspect sooner.