We carried out a review of the data available to us about Blandford Grange Care Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Blandford Grange Care Home, you can give feedback on this service.
Blandford Grange Care Home is a nursing care home providing personal and nursing care to 57 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The home can accommodate up to 63 people in a purpose-built building. The accommodation is over three floors with a lounge and dining area on each floor.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Blandford Grange Care Home provided a friendly, welcoming and relaxed environment for people and visitors.
People were supported by staff that were caring, compassionate and overall treated them with dignity and respect. Staff knew about people’s life history, personal circumstances, their preferences, interests and communication needs.
People received person centred care from staff who developed positive, meaningful relationships with them. People had opportunities to socialise and pursue their interests and hobbies. Care plans were detailed and up to date about people's individual needs and preferences.
People and relatives said the service was safe. Staff demonstrated an awareness of each person's safety and how to minimise risks for them. They were supported by staff with the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff had regular training and felt confident in their role.
Risks to people's health, safety and wellbeing were assessed. Risk management plans were put in place to make sure risks were reduced as much as possible whilst still promoting their independence.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
There was strong leadership at the service and people, relatives and staff spoke highly of the registered manager. There was a positive culture at the service where staff felt listened to and supported. There was a drive to continuously improve the service for people and the registered manager and staff team were very responsive to any areas for improvement identified.
The registered manager and provider now had robust quality assurance systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided. There was open culture that focused on learning lessons and finding different ways of making improvements for people.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 14 June 2018). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
At this inspection we found improvements had been made in every key question we ask, and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. The service is now rated Good in all key questions.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
This inspection took place on 21 and 23 February 2018 and was unannounced.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
This was the first inspection of this service since it was registered with Healthcare Homes (LSC) Limited.
Risks associated with some people’s behaviour were not effectively managed. Care plans lacked detail to support staff to meet people's needs.
There were not enough staff to support people that presented a risk to themselves and others. There were not enough staff to provide meaningful activities for people and to be supported to pursue individual interests. We have made a recommendation about the review of staffing levels in the home.
Staff knew how to identify and respond to abuse. Concerns had been shared with the local authority by the registered manager.
Medicines were administered safely but improvements were required to how ‘as and when’ (PRN) medicines were monitored for their effectiveness.
Improvements were required to improve the cleanliness the home.
Staff’s employment history and suitability were checked before they started working at the home.
Premises and equipment were managed to keep people safe.
Staff required more training and support to meet the needs of people living with dementia including supporting people with behaviours that may challenge others.
People received support from staff to eat and drink where required.
The provider did not act in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards at this service. Care homes must follow the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards otherwise this is unlawful.
Relatives and people gave us mixed feedback about how the home had ensured that staff got to know people and treat people with compassion and as individuals.
Staff did not always communicate with people in accessible ways that took into account any sensory impairment which affected their communication.
People did not always receive care that was responsive to their needs and improvements were required to the home’s approach to person centred care.
People’s preferences and choices for their end of life care were discussed with them and recorded in their care plans.
The service did not have a clear strategy for how it supported people living with dementia.
There were systems in place to track incidents and accidents in the service but this was not always effective to identify action required and review care provided.
Arrangements for oversight of the service required improvement to identify and respond to concerns and risks.
We found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read at the back of the full report what action we have told the provider to take.