Park Avenue Care Home

● The home had arrangements in place to test both people and staff for COVID-19, in line with the current guidelines on testing. Appropriate staff had been trained to carry out these tests. People and some staff had received a first dose of the vaccine.

● Staff had received recent training in infection control which had been updated to include information on managing the risk of the spread of COVID-19 and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

● The home had a team of housekeeping staff that had been trained on infection control. There was an enhanced cleaning schedule in place that also ensured door handles, key pads, hand rails and high touch areas were consistently cleaned. We observed that the home was very clean and well kept.

● There was a visitor's policy and visitor's guide with detailed advice for families. The home's garden facilities had been used in the warmer weather. There was a dedicated visitor's room with separate entrance and a full screen, which was in use when local health restrictions permitted. Visits were booked in advance, personal protective equipment (PPE) provided and staff cleaned the visiting area between each visit. There was a dedicated staff member to oversee visits, support people and their families and ensured social distancing was maintained.

● People were supported to maintain links with friends and family via telephone and video calls. Links with families were maintained through regular communication and relatives' meetings held on line which allowed many relatives including families in other countries to take part.

● There was a comprehensive set of policies, procedures audits and detailed risk assessments in relation to the management of infection control risks and in particular Covid-19.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found