Kidsgrove Care Solutions - Arbour Street

We found the following examples of good practice.

● The short breaks service had recently reopened in April 2021 following a period of closure during the pandemic. The registered manager took appropriate steps to ensure the service was safe before reopening and implemented new policies and procedures to keep people safe.

● The maximum number of people able to use the service at any one time had reduced to two people to ensure current guidance could be implemented safely, including social distancing guidance.

● People were required to have a negative COVID-19 test before admission to the service and this was clearly communicated to all people and relatives to ensure expectations were clear and the service would be delivered safely.

● The service provided people with tests and any support they may need to carry them out, prior to their admission.

● On arrival at the service, visitors were screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and were required to complete a lateral flow test to ensure their visit could take place safely in line with current guidance.

● When staff struggled to use a particular piece of personal protective equipment (PPE), a suitable alternative was sourced for them to ensure government guidelines were still followed and people were kept safe.

● Each person who used the service had access to an easy read, accessible guide that gave them information about how to keep safe and what processes had been implemented at the service to keep everyone safe. This included information about regular hand washing for at least 20 seconds and more about COVID-19 symptoms and transmission. This ensured people had the information they needed in a format they could understand.

● A relatives questionnaire was sent to families to ensure families felt informed about how the service was operating during the pandemic and to ensure they felt informed and involved. Relatives were asked if they felt any further steps could be taken to ensure their family members were kept safe and feedback was acted upon when required.

● The service had received a certificate of achievement from a local MP for going above and beyond during the pandemic to provide essential items and services to those that needed it.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found