Cherry Tree Cottage

Updated 9 August 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. 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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Cherry Tre Cottage is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed any notifications we had received from the service and information from external agencies such as the local authority. We also contacted Healthwatch this is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider had shared in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us to give key information about the service.

During the inspection

We spent time in the company of people living at the service and received feedback from four about their experience of the service. We also spoke with the registered manager, two team leaders and a support worker. We reviewed records related to the care of three people. We looked at records of accidents and incidents, audits and quality assurance reports, complaints and three staff files. We looked at documentation related to the safety and suitability of the service and spent time observing interactions between staff and people within the communal areas of the service.

After the inspection, we contacted external professionals for feedback and received information from two adult social care professionals.

Updated 9 August 2019

About the service

Cherry Tree Cottage provides accommodation and care for adults with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. The service accommodated people in one building and was registered for the support of up seven people. At the time of the inspection six people were using the service.

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 that 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.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received a positive experience of living at Cherry Tree Cottage. People told us they were happy living at the service and with the care and support they received. Improvements had been made to how the service was monitored, and action had been taken to improve the external and internal environment.

People were protected from risks associated with the environment, and risks related to their health and welfare, had been assessed, planed for and were regularly monitored. The service was clean and hygienic. Staff were aware of their responsibilities and the action required to safeguard people from avoidable harm. People received their prescribed medicines and they were stored and managed in accordance with national best practice guidance.

People told us there were enough staff to care for them and they regularly accessed their local community with the support of staff or independently. People led active and fulfilling lives, this included a person having a volunteer role in the community. People were also supported to pursue social activities, interest and hobbies.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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 received an induction on commencement of their work and ongoing training and support. Checks were completed on staff’s suitability to care for people.

People had a choice about what they ate and had enough food and drink. People were supported with their health care needs and had access to healthcare when they needed it. Staff sought advice from specialist health professionals when required to support people effectively.

People were supported by staff who were kind and caring and who knew them well. Staff involved people as fully as possible in decisions about their care, they respected their right to privacy and treated them with dignity and respect.

People had access to the provider’s complaint procedure. People’s wishes regarding end of life care required further discussion to ensure staff understood their preferences.

There were systems and processes in place that monitored the quality and safety of the service. People received opportunities to be involved in the development of the service.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 17 April 2018) and there was one breach in regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of this regulation.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit at the next scheduled inspection. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk