SENSE - 30 Norbins Road

At this inspection we met with the team leader as the registered manager was on annual leave and therefore unavailable to speak with us. At the time of the inspection all residents and staff had tested negative and the home had not had any outbreaks during the pandemic.

We found the following examples of good practice.

Staff had good knowledge of infection prevention control (IPC). All staff had received IPC training, including how to safely put on and take off PPE such as gloves, aprons, and face coverings. A staff member said, "We get refresher training and competency checks as well."

The home was clean and tidy. Staff were responsible for keeping the premises clean. There was a cleaning schedule that included disinfecting touch points several times a day and steam cleaning soft furnishings. One staff member told us, "We use lots of anti-bacterial wipes and we have changed our cleaning products in response to COVID-19."

The provider's visitor's policy was clear and in line with national guidance. Visitors were required to follow the homes infection control procedures. The provider had a summer house for safe visits as their bedrooms did not allow for social distancing.

The home was split into two floors. The team leader explained how they would implement zoning in the event of another outbreak. There was a contingency plan in place that described key people to be contacted in the event of a pandemic. The home had support from the local GP surgery, the local commissioning team and the organisations senior management team.

The provider was not admitting people to the home because they did not have any vacancies. The team leader told us, no one would be admitted without a negative test first and they would have to isolate for 14 days. They also told us, "Their belongings would go into isolation for 72 hours prior to the person moving in". The providers admissions policy confirmed this was the correct process for the home.

Regular testing was being carried out, weekly for staff and monthly for people living in the home. This was in line with COVID-19 testing guidance. Consent was recorded in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found