Yardley Grange Nursing Home

Yardley Grange Nursing Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 46 people. The service provides support to people who are over 65 and require nursing care and/or have dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people using the service.

The home is set out over two floors with access to both floors via a lift. There are numerous communal lounges and visiting areas situated throughout the building for people to use.

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

The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. However, these systems had not identified the shortfalls we found at the inspection in relation to recording of actions taken following feedback from people and oversight of some aspects of recruitment. Further oversight was needed to ensure all areas of the service were monitored effectively.

People were supported safely, and staff understood the risks associated with people’s care. People received safe support with their medicines and learning was taken from any incidents or accidents that occurred. There was a dedicated team of staff responsible for the cleanliness of the home and systems were in place to promote and monitor good infection control practice.

There were sufficient staff available to support people and staff were recruited safely. People were supported by staff who had received the necessary training for their roles. 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.

People received support to have their healthcare needs met and the registered manager and staff team worked alongside local healthcare professionals to achieve this. People had their preferences for meals and drinks met and were provided with meals that met their dietary requirements.

People felt well cared for and were supported by staff who knew them well. People were involved in choices in their care and were treated with dignity and respect.

People had access to a range of activities and were supported to maintain relationships that were important to them. People’s care records were reviewed to ensure they were up to date.

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 the service under the previous provider was good (published on 21 May 2019).

Why we inspected

Whilst we have carried out an infection control inspection, published 09 April 2021, this inspection did not award a rating for the service. The service has not been inspected and rated since a change in provider on 10 July 2019. We undertook this inspection to rate the service under the new provider.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Yardley Grange had recently had a COVID-19 outbreak which had impacted on the service. Visits to the home were currently suspended. However, where people were at the end of life, arrangements were in place to support these visits.

Action had been taken to reduce the risk of infection spreading in the home. This included the isolation of people affected by COVID-19, shielding of people who were vulnerable and the cohorting of staff to reduce the spread of infection.

Checks were carried out on professional and essential visitors to the service to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Regular testing in line with government guidelines for COVID-19 took place for people and the staff team.

Staff were wearing PPE appropriately. There were sufficient supplies of PPE located around the service and arrangements were in place for staff to safely remove and dispose of PPE. For some tasks a higher level of PPE was required and this was now in place.

People's health and wellbeing was monitored. People were observed for symptoms of COVID-19 and other potential infections. The majority of people and staff had been vaccinated. The registered manager ensured every person had access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

The home was kept clean with regular cleaning schedules adhered to. Cleaning schedules had been enhanced and were followed by housekeeping staff and care staff. Audits had identified some environmental improvements were needed. Work was in progress to make these improvements.

Policies and procedures related to COVID-19 were up to date which supported staff to keep people safe. Risks to staff were being managed. However, where there was an increased risk to workers the risks needed to be assessed and documented.

The management team communicated regularly with people, staff and relatives to make sure everyone understood the precautions being taken, and how to keep people safe.