Sherwood Grange

Sherwood Grange is a care home that provides nursing and personal care for up to 59 older people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people using the service including those living with dementia.

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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The home was safe for people to live in as there were sufficient staff numbers to attend to people’s needs during the day and at night. We did an early morning visit and we saw that people were getting up at a time that suited them, their activities, and routines. People had any risks to them regularly assessed, reviewed, and minimised with any required action taken to keep them safe. This meant people were able to take acceptable risks and enjoyed their lives in a safe way. Safeguarding concerns, accidents, and incidents were reported, investigated, and recorded. Staff were appropriately recruited, and trained including how to safely administer medicines. The home provided Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and it was used safely, and effectively in accordance with current legislation. The infection prevention and control policy were up to date.

The home was well-led managed with an honest, open, positive, and transparent culture. The provider’s vision and values were clearly set out and staff understood and followed them. People and relatives told us communication between them, staff, and the management team worked well. The management and staff had clearly defined areas of responsibility, accountability and a good, regularly reviewed service was provided. Thorough audits were conducted. Community links were well-established, and working partnerships were maintained. The provider met Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration requirements. Healthcare professionals who responded told us that the service was well managed, and people’s needs were met in a professional, open, caring, and friendly way.

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 this service was good (published 29 March 2023). The overall rating for the service has remained good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to staffing levels, particularly at night and people being got out of bed before they wished. There was also an allegation of inappropriate sexual activity by a person using the service towards another person. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

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.

We did not inspect the key questions of effective, responsive, and caring.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Sherwood Grange on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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

Sherwood Grange is a care home that provides nursing and personal care for up to 59 older people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were 36 people using the service including those living with dementia.

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

We recommended that the provider reviews the best areas of the home to provide busy activities and enhance the experience for people using the service.

The home was responsive to people’s needs including activities and was striving to reachieve the high standards at the previous inspection, although they weren’t quite there yet with the activities co-ordinator updating the activities needs of people. The registered manager and staff regularly assessed and reviewed people’s care needs and updated their care plans accordingly, although some relatives had concerns regarding recorded information about people being inaccurate. This was addressed during the inspection visit. Staff, who knew people and their preferences well, provided them with person-centred care. This included any communication needs. People were given choices, and encouraged to follow their routines, interests and maintain contact with friends and relatives to minimise social isolation. People and their relatives were given easy to understand information about the service to decide if they wanted to move in. Complaints were appropriately recorded, investigated and responded to.

People, their relatives and staff told us the home was a safe place for people to live and staff to work. Risks to people were regularly assessed, reviewed and minimised. This meant people were enabled to take acceptable risks, and enjoy their lives safely. Any safeguarding concerns, accidents, and incidents were reported, investigated and recorded. The home had enough staff to appropriately meet people’s needs and support them. Staff were suitably recruited and trained including how to safely administer medicines. The home provided Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and it was used safely, and effectively. The infection prevention and control policy was up to date.

The home was well led and managed in an open, transparent and positive way, although some relatives felt communication could be improved between them and the home. This was acknowledged by the registered manager who was working to improve it. Other relatives were happy with it. The provider had a vision and values that were clearly set out and staff understood and followed them. There was also an honest culture. The management and staff had clearly defined areas of responsibility, accountability and a good, regularly reviewed service was provided. Thorough audits were conducted. There were well-established, community links and working partnerships that were maintained. The provider met Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration requirements. Healthcare professionals told us that the service was well managed and people’s needs were met in a professional, open, caring and friendly way.

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.

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 this service was Outstanding (published 25 October 2019). The overall rating for the service has changed to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

We did not inspect the key questions of effective, and caring.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Sherwood Grange on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation regarding the activities provided for people. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Responsive section of this full report.

Sherwood Grange is a care home providing personal and nursing care for 56 older people, at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 59 people. The provider is Care UK Community Partnerships Ltd, and the home is situated in south west London.

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

People and staff said they thoroughly enjoyed living and working at the home. Each person and their relatives, that we spoke to, could not speak highly enough of the care, support and attention provided. This was reflected in the vibrant and positive can-do attitude of staff and the management team.

People and staff felt safe living and working at the home. People were able to live safely by having risks to them assessed and this enabled them to take acceptable risks and enjoy their lives. Accidents and incidents were reported, investigated and recorded including safeguarding concerns. There were suitable numbers of appropriately recruited staff. Medicines were safely stored and administered.

People did not feel discriminated against and had their equality and diversity needs met. Everyone we spoke to praised the excellent quality of the care and support staff provided, in a friendly and inclusive environment. Staff who were highly trained and well supervised, spoke to people in a clear and friendly way and at a pace that made it easier for them to understand. Staff encouraged people to discuss their health needs and people had access to community-based health care professionals. People were protected from nutrition and hydration risks and staff encouraged them to choose healthy and balanced diets that also met their likes, dislikes and preferences. The premises were very well adapted to meet people’s needs. Transition and joined up working between services was highly developed, smooth and based on people’s needs, wishes and best interests.

People received exceptional care that was tailored to their needs and wishes. This was provided by caring, attentive and compassionate staff. The home’s atmosphere was positively buzzing with activity, very welcoming, warm, and inclusive with friendly staff providing care and support in a way people liked and enjoyed. Positive interactions took place between people, staff and each-other throughout our visit. Nothing was too much trouble. People had their privacy, dignity and confidentiality observed by staff, and they were encouraged and supported to be independent. People had access to advocates.

People, including those with dementia had numerous activity choices tailored to their individual and group interests and hobbies and did not suffer social isolation. Their needs were comprehensively assessed and reviewed, resulting in focussed person-centred care. People were provided with information, to make decisions in a timely way and end of life wishes were sensitively identified with people and their relatives, at a pace they were comfortable with. Complaints were fully investigated, recorded and learnt from.

The home’s culture was very open and positive with transparent management and leadership. People, their relatives, staff and healthcare professionals all remarked on the first-class leadership, at the home, that resulted in a vibrant, caring and animated culture that everyone enjoyed. There was a clear organisational vision and values. Service quality was constantly reviewed, and areas of responsibility and accountability identified with staff eager to take responsibility. Audits were carried out and records kept up to date. Excellent community links and working partnerships were established. Registration requirements were met.

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.

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

Rating at the last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Good (published 25 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

Sherwood Grange is registered to provide accommodation and personal and nursing care to up to 59 older people. The service specialises in caring for people living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 31 people living at the home.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Sherwood Grange was a new, purpose built care home which provided a comfortable and supportive environment for older people, many of whom were frail, had reduced mobility and/or sensory impairment and were living with dementia. People said the home was a comfortable and safe place to live. The environment was clean, tidy and free from malodours. Regular checks of the premises and equipment were carried out to ensure these were safe and posed no risks to people.

Staff knew what action to take to ensure people were protected if they suspected they were at risk of abuse or harm. They followed guidance to keep people safe from identified risks to their health, safety and welfare. Senior staff ensured learning from any accidents and incidents was used to reduce risks of further reoccurrence, to protect people.

There were enough staff to support people. The provider carried out appropriate checks on their suitability and fitness to support people. Staff were trained and supported by senior staff to meet people’s needs. They were kind, caring and thoughtful and knew people well. Staff provided people with support that was dignified, respectful and which maintained their privacy at all times. They supported people to be as independent as they could and wanted to be in the home and community.

People were involved in planning and making decisions about their care and support needs. People’s care plans reflected their needs and their choices and preferences for how they received care. Staff were aware of their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). They obtained people’s consent before providing support and followed legal requirements where people did not have the capacity to consent.

People were supported to stay healthy and well. Staff encouraged them to eat and drink sufficient amounts to meet their needs and monitored people’s general health and wellbeing. Where there were any issues or concerns about a person’s health, staff ensured they received prompt care and attention from appropriate healthcare professionals such as the GP. People received their medicines as prescribed and these were stored safely in the home.

People were supported to live an active life, pursue their interests and build and develop social relationships with others. People had access to a wide range of activities in the home and community and they were actively encouraged to participate in these. The service had good links with the wider community such as the local school and church to widen the range of activities and events that people could take part in and enjoy.

The registered manager encouraged an open, inclusive culture within the home. People and staff were asked to give their views about the quality of the service and how this could be improved. The registered manager acted on this feedback to make changes where these were needed. Visitors and relatives were free to visit their family members and were warmly welcomed. People said they felt comfortable raising any issues or concerns directly with staff. There were arrangements in place to deal with people's complaints and issues appropriately.

People and staff said the registered manager was approachable and supportive. The registered manager ensured all staff were set objectives that were focussed on people experiencing good quality care and provided opportunities for them to talk about how they achieved this.

There were quality assurance systems in place to ensure all aspects of the service were routinely audited and checked. Senior staff used these checks to assess and review the quality of service people experienced. Where shortfalls or gaps were identified these were addressed promptly. Records and information about people, staff and the service, were stored securely and well maintained.