Potton View

We found the following examples of good practice.

There was a purpose-built visiting pod in place with a clear screen to separate visitors from people. Visitors, one or two people only, could visit their family member/friend by appointment using this pod. Entrance and exits for visitors to this pod was a different door to the main entrance to the home via the garden. These visits were currently suspended. Phone calls and video calls were also available to people to stay in contact with friends and family. These calls were by appointment to make sure everyone had their fair share of contact with relatives and friends.

On arrival into the building, a health or social care visitor must wait to enter, they will then sign in (track and trace), sanitise their hands and have their temperature checked. They also must answer a health declaration around COVID-19. There may be a request to take a COVID-19 lateral flow test. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) would be made available if they didn’t have any.

Hand sanitiser facilities were available at the entrances, exits and corridors throughout the home.

Posters were on display to prompt social distancing, COVID-19, handwashing etc. People at the home were communicated to re COVID-19 restrictions and updated via a letter. Information could be provided to people in different formats such as large print to aid with their understanding.

Post to the home was set aside for 72 hours to prevent cross contamination.

Chairs in communal areas such as the dining room had been spread out to promote social distancing. Staff were asked to socially distance when on their break and staff breaks were staggered to promote this. The building could be zoned into different areas should an outbreak occur. An area had been currently kept free should the need emerge.

People had their temperature checked twice a day and staff had their temperature checked just before they started their shift. People were swab tested every 28 days. Staff were swab tested every seven days and would then be lateral flow tested when they arrived on shift.

There was an infection control champion within the home. Staff were checked to ensure they were handwashing in line with their training using ultraviolet lights. Wave wash machines had been installed to count down 20 seconds when staff and people were handwashing to promote good infection control practices.

The home looked clean. A housekeeping staff member was observed cleaning frequently touched areas such as computer keyboards, chairs, table tops, handles and furniture. Communal areas were uncluttered to aid with effective cleaning.

Potton View is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 10 older people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 31 people in one adapted building all on one level.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

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.

People felt safe because of the care and support provided by staff at the service. Risk assessments were in place to identify possible risks to people`s health and well-being. These assessments formed guidance for staff on how to reduce these risks. Staff worked in conjunction with guidance from external health to help promote people’s well-being.

Staffing levels were looked at to make sure they were satisfactory to meet the needs of the people living at the service. Medicines were safely managed. Lessons were learnt within the service and the organisation. Actions were taken to reduce the risk of recurrence when things went wrong or there was a near miss.

Staff knew the people they supported very well and how the person wished to be cared for. To develop their skills and knowledge staff received training, competency checks, supervisions and appraisals. People were encouraged to maintain their independence wherever possible. Staff assisted people with their food and drink intake.

Staff promoted and maintained people’s privacy and dignity. People had developed good relationships with staff who understood their individual preferences and care needs. When people approached the end of their life, the registered manager and staff would work with external health professionals. This was so people experienced as dignified a death as possible.

The building had adaptations in place to help assist people who required wheelchair access or had mobility needs. Signage about the service was clear to enable people's orientation.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People`s personal information was kept confidential. People and their relatives were involved in discussions and agreements about their care. People’s relatives told us when they had to raise any suggestions they were listened to. Information on how to raise a complaint was on display for people and their visitors to refer to. Compliments about the service had been received.

People and staff told us the service was well managed. People were asked to feedback on the quality of the service. Staff felt well-supported. Audits including organisational reviews were carried out to monitor the service and address any improvements required. The registered manager notified the CQC of incidents that they were legally obliged to.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 30 August 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as the service had yet to be rated since it registered with the CQC on 30 August 2018.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.