Archived: Griffiths House

We found the following examples of good practice.

• The home had made arrangements for people to receive visitors safely. Purpose built areas of the home had been created that were safe and secure.

• There were facilities for handwashing throughout the building. Extra facilites had been put in place as part of the home’s response to the pandemic. Details for test and trace purposes were being recorded and temperature checks were completed.

• The home had good supplies of PPE; we saw that staff were wearing masks throughout the home.

• Staff wellbeing was supported through providing an employee assist programme and thanks you vouchers to recognise their efforts during the pandemic.

• The registered manager told us how people’s wellbeing had been affected during the outbreak in the home, but that staff were working hard to support them. During our inspection we saw staff supporting people in a kind and caring way.

• Testing was being carried out regularly on staff and people in the home so that steps to protect others could be taken, if a person tested positive.

• People had ensuite rooms so were able to isolate if symptomatic or had given a positive Covid test. Social distancing was difficult due to people’s capacity to understand, however this was risk assessd and measures put in place to support the people as safely as possible.

• Cleaning schedules were in place and extra equipment had been purchased during the pandemic to enable steam cleaning. Attention was paid to high touch points.

• The registered manager understood the principles of cohorting staff, though this had been difficult due to high numbers of staff being off work at various times. Agency staff had been block booked so that they weren’t working between various homes.

This was the services first inspection since registering with us in July 2016.

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.

People were receiving care that was responsive and effective. Care plans were in place that described how the person would like to be supported. The care plans provided staff with information to support the person effectively. People were evidently involved in the planning of their care. Other health and social professionals were involved in the care of the people living at Griffiths House.

The atmosphere in the home was inclusive, which promoted a homely and family feel to the service. People were the focus of the care.

People’s rights were upheld and they were involved in decisions about their care and support. Where decisions were more complex, these had been discussed with relatives and other health care professionals to ensure it was in the person’s best interest. Staff were knowledgeable about legislation to protect people in relation to making decisions and the deprivation of liberty safeguards.

People were protected from the risk of abuse because there were clear procedures in place to recognise and respond to abuse and staff had been trained in how to follow the procedures. Systems were in place to ensure people were safe including risk management, checks on the environment and safe recruitment processes. Safe systems were in place to ensure that people received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff were caring and supportive and demonstrated a good understanding of their roles in supporting people. There was a real commitment to ensure staff had the appropriate training to support people effectively. Staff were supported in their roles. Systems were in place to ensure open communication including team meetings and daily handovers. This ensured important information was shared between staff enabling them to provide care that was safe, effective and consistent.

People were involved in activities in the home and the local community. These were organised taking into consideration the interests of the people.

People’s views were sought through care reviews and resident meetings and acted upon. There were systems to ensure that complaints were responded to.

The registered manager and the provider completed regular checks on the systems that were in operation in the home to ensure they were effective.

People were provided with a safe, effective, caring and responsive service that was well led. The organisation’s values and philosophy were clearly explained to staff. There was a positive culture where people felt included and their views were sought.