Aaron Grange is a residential care home for 68 older people, many living with dementia. The home is split into two separate units; Beecham suite and Emily suite. People with dementia stay mainly in Emily suite. Accommodation includes mainly single bedrooms with ensuite facilities. There is a large enclosed garden area and separate seating area for people to enjoy. A passenger lift provided access to the upper floors. At the time of our inspection 58 people were living at the home.At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
Everyone who lived in the home said they felt safe. There were robust measures in place to ensure people were safe. Risk assessments were in place for areas such as pressure care, safe environment, falls and mobility, and nutrition and hydration.
There were sufficient staff on duty to meet people's needs. The manager completed a dependency tool for each person each week which provided this reassurance. Staff rotas showed a consistent number of staff were on duty each day. People told us call bells were answered within a reasonable time.
Staff had been appropriately recruited to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. We found that staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to support people effectively and safely.
Staff were supported by the manager through regular supervisions, annual appraisal and regular training. Staff had attended training in subjects such as first aid, fire safety, food safety, safeguarding and medication. New staff were required to complete an induction. Staff meetings were held regularly.
Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. Staff had been trained to administer medicines to ensure errors were kept to a minimum.
The home was very clean and there were no odours. The home was well maintained and in good decorative order. People's bedrooms were personalised and were decorated and furnished to a high standard.
Regular checks and tests, such as gas, electricity, water safety, fire drills, fire alarm tests and external checks of firefighting equipment, were completed to maintain safety in the home.
People's needs were assessed and reviewed regularly to reflect their current health and support needs. People were supported to maintain healthy lives; records showed that people were supported to attend medical appointments.
People were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced diet and meet their dietary requirements. Drinks were offered at various times throughout the day to ensure people’s hydration needs were met. Staff understood people’s individual nutrition and hydration needs and we saw that meals were provided accordingly. However, people gave us mixed responses with regard to their liking of the food.
Everyone living in the home was very complementary about the attitude of the staff and the way they were treated. We observed staff speaking to people respectfully; they were extremely patient and approached people with a smile. Staff were tactile with people and offered physical contact for reassurance,
Staff knew people and understood their different communication needs. Staff supported people to make decisions about their care, support and treatment as far as possible. Records showed people's preferred routines, likes and dislikes.
People and their family members were invited to attend six monthly care reviews. This ensured they were involved in the planning of their care and family members kept up to date with matters relating to their relative’s health and welfare.
People we spoke with told us they could “please themselves about their daily routine”; get up and retire to bed at times which suited them. This information was recorded in their care records.
There was a complaints policy in place, which was displayed in the home. People living in the home told us they had never had to complain about anything.
There were activity coordinators in post. They told us the programme of activities was in the process of being changed. There was an activity planner on display but this did not represent the activities provided. We did not see any activities in progress during our inspection. People told us there had been petting animals, a tea party, exercises, crafts and musical entertainers.
Quality assurance audits were completed by the manager and deputy manager which included, medication and health and safety.
There was a process completed annually where people in the home and their relatives had the opportunity to voice their opinions about the service. The manager hoped to set up a ‘Relatives’ forum’ in the near future, to enable people to meet regularly.
There was a caring, person-centred, and open culture in the home. The manager and registered provider met their legal requirements with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). They had submitted notifications and the ratings from the last inspection were clearly displayed in the home.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.