• Care Home
  • Care home

Aspen Grange Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Coldnailhurst Avenue, Braintree, CM7 5PY (01376) 550764

Provided and run by:
Opal Care Homes Limited

Important: The provider of this service changed. See old profile

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 15 April 2023

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Aspen Grange Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Aspen Grange Care Home is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 28 March 2023 and ended on 31 March 2023. We visited the location’s service on 28 March 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the regional manager, registered manager, clinical lead and 6 care staff.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people’s care records, 9 people’s medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service including quality assurance monitoring and the services policies and procedures.

Following the inspection we continued to seek further clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 15 April 2023

About the service

Aspen Grange Care Home is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care for up to 49 people in one purpose built home. The service provides support to older people living with dementia and complex care requirements. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people using the service.

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

People received safe care from staff who knew them well. There was a safeguarding policy in place and the registered manager, and staff knew how to identify and report concerns. There were enough staff deployed to meet the needs of people using the service. Staff had been recruited safely and pre-employment checks carried out.

Risks to people had been assessed and updated in people's care plans when their needs changed. Medicines were administered safely by trained members of staff. Staff had received an induction and training to enable them to meet people's needs. Supervisions, appraisals, and competency assessments for staff were carried out. Staff felt supported by the senior team.

There were effective infection control measures in place. Staff wore personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriately and had access to PPE.

People's nutritional needs were met and additional support was given as required. The food provided was fresh, nutritious and people ate well. Staff were kind and caring and people and their relatives confirmed this. We observed staff responding to people's needs with dignity and respect. People and relatives knew who to speak to if they had any concerns or complaints to raise.

We received positive feedback about the leadership and management of the service. There were systems in place to monitor, maintain and improve the quality of the service.

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. However, we have made a recommendation about completing mental capacity assessments for each specific decision.

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 requires improvement (published 16 November 2020)

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.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation in relation to the completing of mental capacity assessments for people which are required to be decision specific, meaning assessing a person for 1 specific decision at a time.

Follow up

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