About the service: Grove Discharge Unit is based within Clatterbridge Hospital. It provides short term nursing or residential care to up to 30 people who have been discharged from hospital and require a period of further assessment or rehabilitation. The service opened in November 2018.

People’s experience of using this service:

Staff had received training and had their competency assessed to ensure they could safely administer medicines. Records regarding medicines were not always accurate. The temperature of areas where medicines were stored, were not always monitored and recorded to ensure they were stored safely, but the temperature on the day was within recommended ranges. We made a recommendation about this in the main body of the report.

People told us they felt safe whilst staying at the service. Appropriate systems were in place to manage any safeguarding concerns and staff were aware of safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures. Individual risks to people had been assessed and records showed that measures were in place to mitigate those risks.

Appropriate numbers of suitably trained and qualified staff were available to meet people’s needs. Records showed that staff had been recruited safely to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

An agreement was in place with the hospital trust, that covered the safety and maintenance of the building and equipment, catering and all domestic work. The unit was clean and well maintained and people had a choice of meals available to them.

The registered manager took action to ensure lessons were learnt from any incidents, such as reviewing all accidents and incidents for themes or trends to help prevent recurrence.

People had access to Occupational therapists and Physiotherapists who continued the assessment process until people left the service, to ensure they received the relevant support after they left. The service worked in liaison with other health and social care professionals and followed their advice to ensure people's needs were met effectively.

Records showed that people had consented to transfer to Grove Discharge Unit to receive support. There was nobody who was unable to make decisions for themselves at the time of the inspection, but systems were in place to ensure when needed, decisions could be made in people’s best interest.

People told us staff were kind and caring, treated them with respect and maintained their dignity and privacy. Staff understood how to communicate with people most effectively for the individual.

Systems were in place to gather feedback from people to help improve the service. People and their family members told us they felt confident to be able to raise any concerns they had with the management and that they would be dealt with.

People’s individual needs had been assessed and plans of care developed based on these needs. Staff were aware of people’s choices and preferences in relation to their care.

People told us there were not a lot of activities to stimulate them during their stay. The registered manager was looking at what activities people would prefer.

The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities within the service and staff had a clear awareness of the vision of the service. People told us they felt the service was managed well.

The registered provider had systems in place to assess and monitor the quality and safety of the service. Although the service had only been open for three weeks, a range of audits had already been commenced.

Rating at last inspection: This is the first inspection of this service. There is no previous rating.

Why we inspected: This inspection was brought forward due to information of risk received by the Commission, in relation to staffing, medicines and the safety of people using the service.

Follow up: We will re inspect the service based on the rating of the service. We will continue to monitor any concerns or risks ra