15 February 2022
During an inspection looking at part of the service
We found the following examples of good practice.
Safe practices were in place for welcoming visitors to the home. These included rapid COVID-19 testing, personal protective equipment (PPE), health and symptom checks and hand hygiene. Vaccination status was checked for all visiting professionals and records of staff vaccinations were maintained. Staff testing for COVID-19 was at the frequency in line with government guidance and a process was in place for monitoring.
People told us they happy and felt safe living at Alexandra House. We spoke with people informally as we walked through the home who were complimentary about the staff. We observed some kind interactions between staff and people. The manager and staff at the home had worked hard to keep people safe. Policies and procedures within the home were robust and frequent monitoring meant that the home worked safely and within good practice and government guidelines. The manager told us they felt lucky and had a good team of staff saying, “The staff team are superb and uplifting.”
Supplies of PPE were in good supply, stock checks maintained, and we observed staff wearing this correctly. Staff had training in infection prevention and control and were shown how to put on and take off PPE correctly. The home was a good standard of cleanliness. Emergency procedures in place meant that the home could operate under pressures such as an outbreak or staff shortages. Domestic staff worked hard to keep all areas of the home clean and tidy including hight touch points and deep cleaning. Detailed cleaning schedules meant it was easy to keep track of hygiene practices within the home.
People were supported to maintain contact with their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included assessing each individual persons needs and working to ensure their visits took place in the most comfortable location. Visiting restrictions changed and the home adapted its policies, practices and communicated to people and their relatives verbally, email or by telephone. Risk assessments were completed for all aspects of care and support including additional risks related to COVID-19. Specific risk assessments had been completed for staff. The manager told us they had a good working relationship with external health and medical practitioners, this included regular checks of the health and medical needs.