The Grange - Residential Care

Welcome to our independent overview of The Grange Residential Care, a home that provides accommodation and personal care for up to 16 people with a range of learning disabilities. At the time of this inspection in March 2021, there were 12 residents living at the service. This specific review focused primarily on how well the home was prepared for and managing infection prevention and control during the coronavirus pandemic, looking closely at their safety measures, daily practices, and how they kept families connected.

When it comes to safety and infection prevention, inspectors found that the provider was effectively preventing visitors from catching and spreading infections, successfully meeting shielding and social distancing rules, and admitting new people safely. Staff used personal protective equipment properly, followed all current guidelines, and ensured that visiting areas were thoroughly cleaned before and after visits. The home also had an up-to-date infection control policy and managed testing for both staff and residents.

For effectiveness, the home provided residents with access to a sensory room featuring assistive technology, allowing them to control features like lights and television using contactless technology to reduce transmission risks. An assistive technology assistant was employed to support residents, and voice recognition software was even adapted alongside the manufacturer for individuals with speech impairments.

Regarding the caring aspect, families felt deeply involved in the care of their loved ones and received regular, detailed updates by email along with Zoom meetings throughout the pandemic. Relatives praised the staff for helping residents stay in touch and noted that their family members coped remarkably well thanks to this constant support and communication.

On the responsive side, the provider adapted physical visiting arrangements by creating a dedicated visiting pod in the garden so relatives could visit without entering the main residential areas. All visitors were required to take a rapid COVID-19 test and achieve a negative result before entering this pod.

For the well-led category, the service maintained transparent and reassuring communication with families, keeping them well-informed about the well-being of residents. While the targeted inspection report did not detail broader management structures beyond infection control and communication, the leadership successfully implemented robust safety measures, a garden visiting pod, and innovative technological adaptations during a challenging time.