Ancliffe Residential Care Home

We found the following examples of good practice.

Robust processes were in place for any essential visitors to the home. Temperature checks were taken automatically via infa-red technology, with a manual thermometer available as a backup. The monitoring system also verbally prompted visitors to put on personal protective equipment (PPE). Each visitor was required to complete a risk assessment, to confirm they were well and displaying no COVID-19 symptoms.

The home was prepared to facilitate internal visitors, in line with government guidance. Training in LFD testing had been completed, with a file set up for each person, in which their nominated visitor was recorded, along with sections to document test results and feedback on how the visit had gone.

The home had robust cleaning procedures in place, which had been increased in response to the pandemic. Frequent touch points had been cleaned as often as hourly, with records evidencing this. Cleaning and infection control audits had been completed monthly, alongside daily walkrounds, to ensure best practice was maintained.

The home had a plentiful supply of PPE, which was worn correctly and consistently by staff. A toilet and washroom close to the entrance, had been converted into a PPE hub, where staff and professional visitors could wash their hands and put on PPE. Additional PPE stations were located across the home. Staff had completed both internal and local authority training in infection control and the safe use of PPE.

Information booklets written in an easy read format had been created and given to each person, which explained all about COVID-19, the need for staff to wear PPE and other relevant information. This had helped people adjust to the changes within the home and reduce any anxieties.

Contact with relatives had been maintained throughout the pandemic, in line with local and government guidance. When permitted, screened indoor visiting had been facilitated via an appointment system. Clear guidance had been drawn up to ensure these were completed safely. Alongside these, the home had supported video and telephone calls, alongside window visits.

Social distancing was promoted, with furniture in communal areas spaced out to support this. Limits on how many people could access each communal area was also in place. Where people had displayed any symptoms, isolation had been used effectively. To date, the home had not had any cases of COVID-19.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found