Otterbourne Grange Residential Care Home

This inspection report for Otterbourne Grange Residential Care Home by the CQC highlights areas of good practice and identifies some key points for further development to ensure the highest quality of care for residents. The report covers the home's performance across five crucial areas, offering a comprehensive overview for families seeking the best care for their loved ones.

Regarding safety, the home has taken steps to address previous concerns. While immediate action was taken to rectify issues related to cleanliness following the inspection, some areas required a deep clean and ongoing attention to maintenance. Staff have received further training to ensure they are fully aware of emergency evacuation procedures, and recruitment processes are now robust, ensuring staff are safely vetted.

In terms of how effective the care is, residents' outcomes have generally improved, with feedback confirming satisfaction. While most residents are involved in their care planning, some relatives indicated a need for greater involvement. The home has recognised this and is implementing improvements to ensure families are more consistently included in these important discussions, and care plans are being updated to provide more comprehensive guidance for staff.

When it comes to caring, staff are noted for their kind and attentive approach, with residents describing them as lovely and helpful. The home ensures that residents receive their prescribed medicines safely and on time, with robust systems in place for ordering, storage, and administration, including careful consideration for "as required" medicines and covert administration when necessary.

The responsiveness of the service has seen positive developments, particularly in how the home learns from incidents. Relatives are promptly informed of any significant events or if a resident is unwell. The leadership team actively monitors incidents and accidents, using the learning to prevent future occurrences through staff meetings and debriefs, and promptly notifying the local authority of any safeguarding concerns.

Concerning how well-led the service is, the leadership team is committed to driving improvements and has implemented robust quality assurance systems. Staff feedback indicates a positive shift, with team members feeling listened to and confident that their concerns are now being addressed. The service actively supports residents in having maximum choice and control over their lives, with policies and practices in place to uphold this principle.