Loose Valley Nursing Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

The service supported people to maintain safe contact with friends and family. This included staff supporting people to use the telephone and internet. Visits were facilitated using a dedicated room, the garden and window visits.

Plans were in place to isolate people with COVID-19 to minimise transmission. The service had good supplies of personal protective equipment that were readily available at stations throughout the service.

The provider had measures in place to prevent visitors from catching and spreading infections. Visitors entered the home from a separate entrance which led directly to the visiting area, therefore minimising contact with others in the home. They were asked health screening questions; temperature checks were performed, and facilities were provided to wash hands on arrival at and external sink. Lateral flow tests were carried out to check the COVID status of visitors and visits were staggered to minimise contact and enable cleaning between visits.

Staff had received training on how to keep people safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and staff and residents were regularly tested for COVID-19. The building was clean and free from clutter and there were enhanced cleaning practices, including frequent cleaning of high touch areas. There were social distancing signs throughout the home, reminding people of the need to maintain a two metre distance.

Staff ensured people's welfare had been maintained by facilitating activities. People were supported to maintain their independence as much as possible, this included the development of a mobile trolley 'shop' that was taken to people so they could continue to purchase personal items despite not being able to go out to the shops.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found