Background to this inspection
Updated
19 December 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
One inspector undertook the inspection.
Service and service type
CCTM Elmfield Cottage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The previous registered manager had left in June 2019. As a temporary measure a registered manager from another of the provider's services and was responsible for the day to day running of the home. This meant both they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
The inspection took place on 16 July 2019. Our visit was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included information received from the provider such as safeguarding alerts, which they are required to send to us by law. We used information the provider sent to us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once a year to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people to gather their views of the service. We also spoke with the manager, one senior care worker and two care workers.
We observed the care and support provided and the interaction between people and staff throughout our visit. We reviewed three people's care records to ensure they were reflective of their needs. We looked at a sample of people's medicine administration records. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service such as quality audits, complaints and people's feedback.
Updated
19 December 2019
About the service
CCTM Elmfield Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for younger people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions and sensory impairments.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties registered to support up to five people. Five people were using the service during our inspection visit. There were no identifying signs to indicate it was a care home. Staff were discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in place supported this practice.
People felt safe living at the home and safeguarding procedures were in place to protect them. Staff were recruited safely, and enough staff were on duty to provide safe care during our visit. Staff had the skills they needed to support people effectively.
Risks associated with people's care and support were assessed. Detailed risk management plans helped staff to manage and reduce risks. People were involved in planning and reviewing their care and support. Care plans contained detailed information and clearly reflected people’s individual preferences for how they wished their care and support to be delivered.
People made every day decisions for themselves and took part in a range of social activities to maintain interests which were important to them to lead meaningful lives. People received responsive and personalised care from staff who knew them well. Individuality and diversity was recognised. People’s feedback was encouraged, and their views and suggestions were acted on.
People’s right to privacy was respected, their dignity was maintained, and people were encouraged to be independent. People liked the food, and their nutrition and hydration needs were met. People received their medicines as prescribed. People had access to health professionals when needed to maintain their health and wellbeing.
The home was clean and tidy during our visit. The décor was continually reviewed and updated to ensure the home was a nice place for people to live.
People were happy with the service they received and how the service was run. The provider and their management team demonstrated commitment to learning lessons when things went wrong. Governance systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were effective. People felt comfortable raising concerns with staff and managers at the home.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 21 February 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.