Belmont Grange Limited

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

People said they felt safe, and relatives were reassured by caring and attentive staff. The atmosphere was welcoming and inclusive. The staff group worked well as a team, sharing relevant information to promote people’s health and well-being. Systems were in place to ensure people were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were based on people’s individual assessed needs. Staff understood about risk and how to keep people safe. Changes made to the recruitment recording made the processes clearer. Medicines were well managed and the home was clean.

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.

We did not look at Learning culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

People were given the opportunity to visit the service. A relative said they had looked around other care homes but knew Belmont Grange was the right place as it was “absolutely brilliant.” We saw care plans contained information reflecting people’s individual interests and preferences, as well as detailing their health needs.

The registered manager was able to explain the assessment process before someone moved to the home. This included liaising with the individual, their family and relevant health and social care professionals. Staff said they worked well as a team, and shared information and knowledge.

Care plans were in place for each person. Staff recognised changes to people’s health and well-being, recording the issue and responding to concerns appropriately.

People said they felt safe and were checked on regularly by staff, which reassured them. They had access to call bells when they needed additional assistance. Call bell records showed good response times by staff, which helped keep people safe. A relative said, “Staff know mum well and I was talking to another relative this morning and we were just saying there are always 2 or 3 staff visible to keep an eye out. And the care is very good, and they know her needs very well and are very kind and we are really grateful for their guidance.”

Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities, including reporting to an external agency such as CQC, if they felt their concerns were not addressed. Staff told us they had received appropriate training.

We saw staff were attentive and picked up on people’s changing moods to ensure they felt safe and reassured. People looked relaxed with one another and the staff team.

There were procedures for staff to follow if they had any concerns about abuse, including contact details for the local authority safeguarding team. Staff confirmed they knew about the safeguarding policy which helped protect people living at the home.

The management team showed an understanding of their safeguarding role and responsibilities. They understood the importance of working closely with commissioners, the local authority and relevant health and social care professionals on an on-going basis. However, some care records required further work to ensure new staff had guidance on how to diffuse potential situations between people who could become frustrated with one another.

We did not look at Involving people to manage risks during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

We did not look at Safe environments during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Safe.

People looked relaxed with staff. They told us they felt comfortable and there was a “nice atmosphere.” Some said they enjoyed the company and social interactions, while others said they appreciated having time to read and watch TV without too many interruptions. Relatives told us their loved ones were safe at the home. Comments included, “Mum is absolutely safe” and “They (staff) are all lovely here and mum is very safe. I'm very happy with her care.”

The staff group worked well as a team, sharing relevant information to promote people’s health and well-being. Staff had a good understanding about the importance of oversight in communal areas so they could monitor people’s moods and wellbeing. Where needed, they intervened and made sure people felt included in the home’s community.

Staff were attentive, diffusing situations if there had been a misunderstanding between people living with dementia. A relative said, “The staff are excellent at what they do, and they know mum well…”

During the inspection, the registered manager addressed areas for improvement in the recruitment process. Staff had access to training, which encouraged them to provide safe, compassionate care and identify changes in people’s health. Staff completed training on a range of subjects including, safeguarding vulnerable adults, and moving and handling. The registered manager recognised a few staff needed more oversight to ensure they completed all the relevant training.

People were positive about the cleanliness of their room and communal areas. A relative said, “It always seems clean, and smells clean too.”

The home was clean and free from longstanding unpleasant odours. Infection control equipment, such as gloves and aprons were readily available, which staff wore appropriately.

Systems were in place to audit infection control and prevention (IPC). When concerns with the environment had been identified, staff took action to address them.

People received their medicines safely and as prescribed. A visitor told us their relative had benefitted from their rapport with staff who supported them well with their medication.

Staff ensured medicines and treatments were managed and stored safely. Staff had received relevant training, and their competency was checked to ensure they managed and administered medicines safely.

Systems were in place to ensure regular audits and checks were undertaken, to ensure medicines remained safe at the service. There was safe management of medicines based on records and storage arrangements. The registered manager made changes during the inspection to ensure handwritten entries were consistently double signed to reduce the risk of errors.