Freegrove Care Home

This report from the Care Quality Commission provides an overview of Freegrove Care Home following an inspection visit. The inspection assessed the service across five key areas to ensure it is meeting high standards of care. Overall, the findings suggest that the home is providing a generally good service, though some specific areas have been identified for further development to enhance the resident experience and operational efficiency.

On safety, residents and their relatives generally feel secure, and staff are trained in safeguarding and understand abuse indicators. Recruitment processes are thorough, and infection control measures are followed, with the home being kept clean. While medicines are managed safely and correctly administered, some record-keeping inaccuracies were noted. Health and safety checks are conducted, and residents have personal emergency evacuation plans in place.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents and external professionals report positive experiences, with staff demonstrating a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and respecting residents' rights. Care plans are personalised and regularly updated, and residents are happy with the food provided, with dietary needs being well catered for. However, there's a need for more detailed documentation of best interest consultations involving external professionals.

Regarding caring practices, residents are treated with dignity and respect, and staff are kind in their interactions. Residents and their families are involved in care decisions, and care is person-centred, with staff responding well to changing health needs. Residents are supported to pursue their interests and engage in social activities.

On responsiveness, residents and their families are confident raising concerns, and the home is noted for its friendly and homely culture. Staff work collaboratively with healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care. Residents' needs are assessed comprehensively before admission, and care plans are tailored accordingly, ensuring individual preferences and needs are met.

Finally, in terms of how well-led the service is, while residents and families express confidence in management and praise the home's culture, improvements are needed in some operational aspects. Notifications of incidents and accidents to the CQC have not always been submitted as required, and the investigation of incidents sometimes lacked robustness, with learning not always consistently applied. The provider's governance and quality assurance systems need to become more effective in monitoring the overall quality and safety of the service. There were also instances where staff deployment could be more efficient, and the frequency of staff supervision has declined, although the provider is reviewing staffing arrangements and has scheduled regular supervision.