The Grange

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

This was the first assessment for this service. This key question has been rated good.

This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had systems and processes in place to support learning and continuous improvement within the service. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to reporting incidents, accidents and concerns and told us they would escalate these appropriately to the management team. Staff described managers as approachable and available to provide advice, guidance and support when needed. There had not been any accidents or incidents at the service.

The management team maintained oversight of the quality and delivery of care through ongoing review and monitoring processes.

The provider carried out assessments of people’s needs before they started receiving support. Information gathered during these assessments was used to develop care plans, which guided staff on how to provide care safely and in line with people’s individual needs and preferences. Staff told us they referred to these plans when delivering care.

Staff explained they communicated regularly with the management team and, where appropriate, with relatives to ensure any changes in people’s needs were identified and responded to promptly. This helped to support continuity of care and ensure people continued to receive appropriate support.

The provider had systems and processes in place to help protect people from abuse and neglect. Staff had completed safeguarding training and demonstrated an understanding of how to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns. Staff were able to describe the actions they would take if they believed a person was at risk of harm. One staff member told us, “I would stay calm, reassure my client, escalate to management as soon as possible.” This showed staff understood the importance of responding promptly and appropriately to concerns about people’s safety.

Staff also understood the provider’s whistleblowing procedures and told us they would raise concerns externally if needed, including with the local authority or the Care Quality Commission.

People and their relatives told us they felt safe receiving support from the service. Staff demonstrated an awareness of their responsibilities to provide care in a way which protected people from harm and promoted their safety.

The provider had systems in place to assess, monitor and manage risks to people’s safety and wellbeing. Risk assessments were personalised and included guidance for staff on how to reduce the likelihood of harm while supporting people to remain as independent as possible. Staff provided care in a way which aimed to balance safety with people’s individual preferences and the things that mattered to them.

Records showed risk assessments were reviewed and updated when people’s needs changed to help ensure information remained current and reflective of people’s circumstances. Staff had completed training relevant to their roles, which supported them to understand potential risks and provide care safely in line with people’s individual plans.

The provider had systems in place to assess and monitor the safety of people’s home environments. Environmental checks were completed, recorded and reviewed to help identify and reduce potential risks. The registered manager explained environmental risks were discussed with people and, where appropriate, their relatives to help ensure people received safe care within their home environment.

Staff had completed training relevant to their roles, including the safe use of equipment. This supported staff to understand how equipment and environmental controls helped meet people’s individual needs and promote safe care.

The provider had arrangements in place to ensure there were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. People and their relatives told us staff arrived on time and provided care in line with agreed plans. One relative told us staff “They look after [relative’s father] like one of their own.” Consistent staffing supported staff to understand people’s individual needs, routines and preferences.

The provider followed recruitment procedures to help ensure staff were suitable for their roles. Appropriate checks were completed before staff started work. Staff told us they received training relevant to their roles and felt well supported by the management team, which helped them develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide safe care.

Staff described managers as approachable and responsive and told us they could seek guidance and support whenever needed. A member of staff said: “My manager is always there for me when I need help or guidance. We have regular calls, spot checks and training.”

The provider had processes in place to help prevent and control the risk of infection. Staff had completed infection prevention and control training and understood the measures required when providing care in people’s homes.

Staff told us they used personal protective equipment appropriately and followed good hygiene practices, including washing their hands before and after providing care. People and their relatives confirmed staff followed suitable infection prevention procedures during visits. One relative told us, “Yes, they always keep areas clean and wash their hands.”

The provider supported one person with their medicines. Care plans included information about the support required, and records were maintained to show when medicines had been administered. Medicines Administration Records charts were completed appropriately and provided clear oversight of medicines support. This helped ensure staff had accurate information about medicines administration and supported the safe management of medicines.

Staff had completed medicines training and understood their responsibilities when supporting people with medicines. They told us they followed guidance within care plans and completed medicines records after administration.

People and their relatives told us they were satisfied with the support provided, which indicated medicines were managed in a way that supported people’s health and wellbeing.