Background to this inspection
Updated
9 March 2021
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
As part of this inspection we also looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
Cherry tree Lodge is a 'care service'. People in care services receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means 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
We announced the inspection 30 mins before so that we could assess the Covid-19 infection status of the service.
What we did before inspection
Before the inspection we checked the information that we held about the service. This included statutory notifications sent to us by the provider about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We did not ask the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
We also obtained feedback from the local authority and healthcare professionals.
During the inspection
We looked around the premises, observed the interactions between people living at the service, care delivery and activities provided at the service.
We spoke with three people living at the service, five staff, including the manager, care staff, ancillary staff including domestic staff, and admin staff.
We looked at a range of documentation including three people's care records, medication records, staff files, accident and incident records, safeguarding records, health and safety records, audits and records relating to the quality checks undertaken by staff and other management records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, risk assessments and quality assurance records.
Updated
9 March 2021
About the service
Cherry Tree Lodge provides accommodation, personal care and support for up to 31 older people in one adapted building. At the time of the inspection there were 12 living at the home.
People’s experience of using the service and what we found
The service was following good practice guidance regarding the management of COVID-19 and maintaining standards of hygiene and infection control.
People's experience of using the service was positive. People received the care and support they needed when required. The feedback we received showed staff were helpful and kind and treated people with dignity and respect. Positive relationships had been developed between staff and people they supported.
People felt safe living at Cherry Tree Lodge. We were told, “Staff are very good, they work very hard.” Another person responded when asked, “Yes, I feel safe here.”
People reported good support regarding the management of their medicines and told us they got their medicines on time. The medications records we saw were clear and in line with best practice. Staff had been trained and underwent competency checks by the registered manager.
Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed to minimise harm. Supporting care records identified risks clearly and there were plans in place to help keep people safe.
The service had two registered managers. Following discussion and previous enforcement action taken by the Care Quality Commission, the management arrangements were being reviewed to include only one registered manager. The RM we liaised with was providing effective leadership and was supported by senior care staff.
Rating at last inspection and update
At the last full comprehensive inspection the service was rated Good (report published 26 March 2019). Since then we have inspected the service on two separate occasions; these were targeted inspections and the service was not rated.
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about aspects of the overall management of the home including the management of infection control with respect to COVID-19. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. We undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them.
Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has remained as Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Cherry Tree Lodge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.