Belgrave Lodge

We found the following examples of good practice.

On arrival at the home, staff checked the temperature of visitors and sprayed disinfectant on the soles of their footwear. Visitors were asked to provide evidence of completing a lateral flow (rapid result) swab test or they could have one carried out on the premises. Visitors were required to wash their hands or apply sanitising gel before they entered the home and wear a face mask.

There had not been any positive cases of Covid-19 throughout the pandemic. Regular testing was carried out for staff and people who use the service. Vaccination of service users had started early in the year and all but a newly admitted person had received both doses.

Admissions were planned well and promoted the safety of people who live and work at the home as well as the prospective resident. Testing was carried out to make sure the prospective resident and the person supporting them did not have the coronavirus.

High standards of cleanliness were maintained at the home. There was an infection control lead person. They and the registered manager ensured infection control procedures were followed and implemented enhanced cleaning and checks of the premises. All bedrooms had en-suite bathrooms, minimising risk of cross-infection through sole use. There was a shared adapted bathroom, but no one chose to use this.

Staff had received training on infection prevention and control. This included use of PPE and how to put it on and take it off. The risks of potential exposure to the virus had been assessed for all staff, taking into account health conditions and high risks associated with people from black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds.

People living at the home had been supported by a consistent group of staff. No agency workers had been used to cover the home, reducing the potential for cross-infection.

Supplies of PPE were available to staff throughout the premises. A business contingency plan and Covid-19 risk assessment were in place, to reduce the effects of potential disruption to people’s care. There were policies and procedures to provide guidance for staff on safe working practices during the pandemic. Auditing and observation of care practice took place to ensure these were adhered to.

Staff had supported people to keep in contact with their families using computer technology as well as through telephone calls. Staff facilitated face to face visits, in line with government guidance.

Belgrave Lodge provides accommodation and support for up to eight people with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and physical disabilities. It is adjacent to another of the provider’s registered services where it shares some facilities, for example, the laundry.

The service had 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 kept safe at the service. Staff undertook training in safeguarding people from abuse. They understood their responsibilities to report any concerns about people’s welfare. Posters about how to raise concerns were displayed around the building.

A relative told us "Overall we're very happy." They said there "Always seem to be plenty of people (staff) about. They're very friendly." They told us healthcare needs were taken care of and "They take (name of person) to the GP when needed."

The building was well maintained and a range of checks and servicing took place to make sure it met safety standards. Fire safety checks were undertaken. However, we have made a recommendation to improve these checks to ensure people are adequately protected against the risk of fire.

Staff had been recruited using thorough processes. They received a structured induction and were appropriately supported through supervision and training.

People received the support they needed with their healthcare needs, such as accessing GPs, dentists and hospital specialists. Staff handled people’s medicines on their behalf. Appropriate records were maintained to show when medicines had been given to people. Audits were undertaken to identify any discrepancies and to resolve these promptly. We found one out of date medicine. We have made a recommendation about monitoring expiry dates of medicines used for occasional use.

People’s needs were recorded in care plans. These were personalised and had been kept up to date. Risk assessments had been written to identify and reduce the risk of people being harmed during the provision of their care. For example, when they were assisted to move.

People’s care was monitored by the provider to make sure it met their needs and was safe. Records of audits showed improvements had been made where they were needed. The registered manager was aware of when they needed to inform us about notifiable incidents and had taken appropriate action in response to these.