Sandpiper Care Home

Updated 17 December 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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 01 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 17 December 2020

Sandpiper Care Home is a service without nursing for up to 30 people. At the time of the inspection 21 people were living in the service.

We found the following examples of good practice.

¿ The provider ensured there was sufficient stock of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in place including masks, visors, gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser. PPE stations were located throughout the service. Staff had access to PPE and were observed wearing this in line with national guidance.

¿ There was a system in place for staff entering the building. A side entrance was used to access the building minimising contact with other staff or people. Staff changed clothing, use handwashing facilities and don PPE before interacting with people.

¿ There was an enhanced cleaning programme in place at the service and the service was visibly clean and well maintained. The housekeeping team wiped high use touch points throughout the day to reduce the spread of infection. Additional cleaning took place during the evening and night to ensure continuous cleaning was maintained.

¿ Systems were in place to ensure COVID-19 positive equipment or objects were not cross contaminated. This included sealing objects in boxes or bags before transportation.

¿ A recent outbreak of COVID-19 at the service had been managed well and the plans in place to support people had been utilised safely. The service supported people to isolate in their bedrooms to reduce the spread of the infection.

¿ The service followed the current guidelines for care home testing, an enhanced testing regime was implemented during the outbreak. This was to ensure if people or staff had contracted COVID-19, it was identified, and measures put in place in a timely way.

¿ Staff were trained in infection prevention and control (IPC). This included donning and doffing training, this is how to put on and remove PPE.

¿ Infection control policies had been updated to reflect current national guidance. Information and guidance were available to staff, relatives and people living in the service relating to COVID-19 and infection control.

¿ People admitted to the service were supported in line with government guidance on managing new admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The provider put in place risk assessments clearly identifying people at high risk of COVID-19 and the measures in place to support them. This meant staff had clear guidance on how to support people during COVID-19.

¿ People were supported to keep in touch with their relatives. The provider had encouraged window visits for people.

¿ Arrangements were in place to support people who were receiving end of life care to ensure relatives could access the home, including full PPE supplied. These measures meant people and their relatives could safely spend time together.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.