Archived: Grapecroft Care Home

We looked at a range of records which included six people’s care plans and daily records, staff recruitment and rotas, health and safety and quality checks undertaken by the manager.

We considered all the evidence we had gathered under the outcomes we inspected. We used the information to answer the five questions we always ask: Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service well-led?

This is a summary of what we found;

Is the service safe?

People told us that they felt safe in Grapecroft Care Home. The environment was clean and bright and people were protected from accessing areas that could be harmful to them.

We saw that people had their needs fully assessed which included all aspects of their lives. Where people were unable to make day to day or significant decisions, Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 assessments had been undertaken. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were in place and had been completed correctly for at least one person using the service. We saw that people’s rights were protected.

The provider had reviewed the dependency levels of people using the service since our last inspection. The staff rotas showed that staffing levels had been increased and recruitment was underway to ensure that there were sufficient nursing and care staff with the appropriate skills on all three floors of the service to meet people’s needs safely at all times.

People who needed one to one support were provided with care from staff who were knowledgeable about their needs. This kept them and those around them protected from harm.

A person's relative told us, “I can go home knowing that my X is well looked after.” A person using the service said, “I am as safe as houses.”

Is the service effective?

People's assessments showed that their care, support and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that ensured their safety and welfare. The records were regularly reviewed and updated which meant that staff were provided with up to date information about how people's needs were to be met.

The relatives we spoke with told us that the service did everything they wanted. One relative said, “This place was a life saver for me when X came here and it does more for my X than I could ever have done.”

Is the service caring?

We observed the interaction between staff and people using the service. Staff were warm, kind, supportive, knowledgeable and professional with a positive attitude to their work and the people they were caring for.

One person told us, “The staff are lovely. X always comes in with a smile.” Another said, “I feel lucky to have nice people looking after me.” One person's relative said, “They don’t just care for my X, they care for me as well.”

Is the service responsive?

We saw in the care plans and daily records that the staff responded appropriately to people’s changing needs, wishes and interests. Families were involved as appropriate in the decision making about people’s care.

People had access to a range of activities and the staff knew what people liked if they were unable to make choices and decisions. One person told us, “I really like the musical bingo, its good fun.”

Regular staff, residents and relative meetings were held. People were able to express their views and the provider responded by making changes where possible. This meant that people felt listened to and valued.

Is the service well-led?

There had been some changes to the management at Grapecroft Care Home in the past four months. The new manager was implementing changes to care planning, training and staffing to ensure people were cared for appropriately and to a high standard.

The staff we spoke with told us that they welcomed these changes. One staff member said, “Things are improving with the staffing levels, the rotas are better for us, we are offered more training, we are being listened to so I think the residents will also benefit from all of this.”

The service worked well with other agencies and services to make sure people received their care in a joined up way. The service had a quality assurance system and records seen by us showed that identified shortfalls were now being addressed. As a result the quality of the service was continuingly improving. One person's relative said, “I hope that the new way of communicating with relatives will continue.”

At the time of our visit there were 62 people living at Grapecroft Care Home. Grapecroft Care Home has four separate units located on three levels within the home. During our visit we spoke with people who used the service, visitors and staff members. People we spoke with were happy with the level of care received at Grapecroft Care Home.

We found that people's nutritional needs were being met. Suitable quantities of food and fluids were provided to people who used the service.We found that staffing levels were not always maintained in line with what they should be, particularly at meal times and this resulted in people having to wait for long periods of time to receive assistance with their meals.

People told us that they liked living at Grapecroft Care Home and found staff to be kind and caring. Relatives spoken with told us that they were very happy with the care and support provided for their family member and that they were always kept informed of what was happening.