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Care Services

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Belmont Grange Limited, Ilfracombe.

Belmont Grange Limited in Ilfracombe is a Residential home specialising in the provision of services relating to accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care, caring for adults over 65 yrs and dementia. The last inspection date here was 24th August 2018

Belmont Grange Limited is managed by Belmont Grange Ltd.

Contact Details:

    Address:
      Belmont Grange Limited
      5 - 6 Belmont Road
      Ilfracombe
      EX34 8DR
      United Kingdom
    Telephone:
      01271863816

Ratings:

For a guide to the ratings, click here.

Safe: Good
Effective: Good
Caring: Outstanding
Responsive: Good
Well-Led: Good
Overall: Good

Further Details:

Important Dates:

    Last Inspection 2018-08-24
    Last Published 2018-08-24

Local Authority:

    Devon

Link to this page:

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Inspection Reports:

Click the title bar on any of the report introductions below to read the full entry. If there is a PDF icon, click it to download the full report.

29th June 2018 - During a routine inspection pdf icon

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 29 June and 12 July 2018.

Belmont Grange is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Belmont Grange is registered to provide accommodation with personal care for up to 25 people in one adapted building, with two of the bedrooms ‘shared’. Belmont Grange is a large Victorian building situated in Ilfracombe, North Devon within a residential area. Access to all floors is gained by a passenger lift. There were 22 people living at the service when we visited, with one vacant room and one person in hospital. The majority of people living at the service experienced some level of a dementia related illness.

We had previously carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service in March 2017. The safe, effective and well led sections were rated as requires improvement. The caring and responsive areas were rated as good. As a result, the overall service was rated as requires improvement. Two breaches of regulation were found. These related to people not having had assessments carried out relating to their mental capacity and people were not protected against the risk associated with the lack of systems to pick up on environmental issues. We also issued a recommendation in relation to the provider using a dependency tool to help them decide on the number of care staff required to meet people’s assessed needs.

Following the last inspection, the local authority Quality Assurance Improvement Team (QAIT) and North Devon Care Homes Team supported and worked with the service to address the breaches of regulation.

At the last inspection in March 2017, we asked the provider to make improvements and this action has been completed.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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, visitors and care professionals described the care as exceptional at Belmont Grange and this had an extremely positive impact on people’s care, support and wellbeing. Relatives described how staff went above and beyond what they should. There was a homely, vibrant and happy atmosphere in the home. Staff were compassionate, polite and respectful to people. They spent time with people, developed meaningful relationships and knew what mattered to them. They were familiar with their lives, past histories and their families. One person commented, “I said I’d never come here … but I couldn’t wish for anything better. The girls look after you, you’re not just their job. If I want anything they will do it for me even in their time off.” People’s relatives and friends could visit always and were very complimentary of the service and all the staff group. Regular feedback was sought from residents and their relatives.

The registered manager led by example and had made significant improvements in the care delivery, fabric of the building and the management of the home. This had been recognised by people, relatives and care professionals who were overwhelmingly positive about the changes. Comments included, “… feel that the atmosphere in the home is one that gives a positive feel when you visit, there is both a homely and vibrant atmosphere having known the home previously I feel that the environment and indeed the reputation of the home is now so much improved”, “Belmont Grange is a home which I have always been very grateful to have in our community” and “In my opinion, the manager has continually strived to make improvements.”

Recruitment checks were safely carried

2nd March 2017 - During a routine inspection pdf icon

This inspection was unannounced and took place over two days; 2 and 6 March 2017. The service was previously inspected in July 2015 when the Effective domain was rated as requires improvement. This was in relation to ensuring people’s mental capacity was assessed and was decision specific. At that inspection, we found that where people lacked capacity their best interests were not considered as best interest meetings and decisions were not fully recorded. At that inspection we were assured this work was being progressed.

At this inspection we found people’s capacity was not always being fully documented, although the registered manager had sought some advice from a nurse educator. Where people were being restricted to ensure their safety, use of bedrails for example, best interest decisions were not fully recorded. We also found that although staff had received training in understanding the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and deprivation of liberty safeguards, they did not all understand how this worked within their practice.

Belmont Grange is registered to provide care and support without nursing for up to 25 people. At the time of the inspection there were 24 people living at the service.

There was a registered manager in place. 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, their families and visitors were positive about the care and support provided by staff at Belmont Grange. Comments included “ very good indeed, staff are very pleasant and co-operative, time keeping is very good, some hiccups, sometimes, but I am not one to complain.’’ One relative said ‘‘My relative moved here from another home, we do not live that close so rely on the staff to keep us up to date. I think they are very caring and helpful to us too.’’

Systems were used to ensure the environment was kept clean and safe with audits being completed on all aspects of the building and equipment. These were not always done to the frequency set out within the providers own guidance. For example the testing of fire alarms and emergency lighting had not been completed for the two weeks previous to our inspection. The maintenance person tested these on the second day of our inspection.

We found the hot water temperatures on several of the baths and showers exceeded the recommended temperatures to ensure people were prevented from risk of scalding. They temperatures had been monitored but no action had been taken to ensure people’s safety. We were informed that they had been fitted with regulators but they were taken off as the hot water supply was not strong enough and when regulators were fitted, only cold water came out of the outlets. Since this inspection we have received confirmation that all hot water outlets have been fitted with regulators to keep people safe from scalding themselves. Similarly, a screen had been fitted to the kitchen door and a radiator had been covered to protect people. All these actions had been taken following feedback after the inspection.

There were enough staff with the right skills, training and support to meet the number and needs of people living at the service. Staff understood people’s needs and knew what their preferred routines and wishes were. This helped them to plan care in a person centred way. There had been some concerns prior to Christmas about there not being enough staff. This was due to staffing levels being reduced to three because the number of people living at the service had been reduced. The provider told us they had a tool to decide on staffing levels in line with people’s assessed need, but this had not been used appropriately by staff. It is recommended the provider use their dependency tool to help them decid

1st January 1970 - During a routine inspection pdf icon

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 17 and 22 July 2015.

Belmont Grange is registered to provide nursing and personal care for up to 25 people. The service does not provide nursing care. Most people living at the service are living with a dementia type illness.

At the time of the inspection the registered manager was taking some time off. The interim manager intends to work with the provider and deputy manager to provide leadership and guidance. 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.

Care was well planned and being delivered by a staff group who understood people’s needs. Risks were being managed and reviewed in line with people’s changing needs. People living at the home felt safe and well cared for. There was a variety of planned activities for people to participate in. These included accessing the local community where possible.

Where people were being deprived of their liberty or decisions had been made in people’s best interests due to them lacking capacity, records about this needed to improve.

The provider had begun a programme of refurbishment and it is recommended they ensure they look at best guidance in adapting environments for people with dementia.

Staff were available in sufficient numbers and had the experience and competencies to work with people with complex needs. Most staff had worked at the service for a number of years and had detailed knowledge of people’s needs and wishes. Newer staff were being supported to develop their skills with training and support.

Staff understood people’s needs and could describe their preferred routines. They worked as a team to provide personalised care and support for people. Health care needs were closely monitored and advice sought from GPs, community psychiatric nurses and other allied health care professionals as needed. People’s dignity and respect was upheld and staff provided support in a kind and compassionate way.

The home was clean and free from odour. Staff understood the processes for ensuring good infection control procedures and there was a ready supply of personal protection equipment such as gloves, aprons and hand sanitizers to help reduce the risk of cross infection. There had been a recent outbreak of scabies and staff had taken the necessary precautions to ensure this outbreak was contained and the right procedures were being followed to reduce the risk of infection to other people.

There was a planned training programme covering all aspects of health and safety and some more specialised areas such as working with people with dementia care needs and care of the dying. Staff had regular opportunities to discuss their work and receive support and supervision.

Systems were in place to ensure people and their families had opportunities to have their views heard both formally and informally. Relatives reported they were made to feel welcome and had opportunities to talk to staff and management about any concerns or ideas they had in relation to any aspect of the running of the service.

 

 

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