• Care Home
  • Care home

Elmcroft Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Brickhouse Road, Tolleshunt Major, Maldon, Essex, CM9 8JX (01621) 893098

Provided and run by:
Elmcroft Care Home Limited

Latest inspection summary

On this page

Our current view of the service

Good

Updated 1 December 2025

Date of Assessment: 17 December 2025 – 08 January 2026

This service is a residential care home providing support to older and younger people, those living with dementia, and people with a physical disability. The service can support up to 54 people.At the time of the inspection, 18 people were living in the service.

We carried out this inspection to follow up on the enforcement action and breaches of regulation identified at the last inspection and to check if improvements have been made.

At the last inspection, the provider was in breach of legal regulations in relation toperson-centred care, safeguarding and governance. Improvements were found at this inspection, and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since September 2024. At this inspection, the provider demonstrated improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

At the last inspection a new management team, including a new registered manager and Nominated Individual, had only recently come into post. They had not had time to address the significant improvements required at the service. At this inspection, we found extensive improvements had been made.

The management team had oversight of the service and effective governance processes were being implemented. There was a positive culture of continuous improvement and learning. Managers and staff had a shared vision based on listening, learning and trust. Leaders were visible, knowledgeable and supportive.

People, relatives and staff were able to raise concerns and managers investigated incidents thoroughly. People were protected and kept safe. There were enough staff available with the right skills and experience to support people safely and in line with their preferences. Managers made sure staff received appropriate training, supervision and support. People’s medicines were managed safely.

People were involved in assessments of their needs. Staff reviewed people’s care plans with them, taking account of their individual needs and preferences. Care was based on the latest evidence and good practice. People had enough to eat and drink and staff monitored people’s health and wellbeing. Staff worked collaboratively with all agencies involved in people’s care to promote positive outcomes. Staff made sure people understood their care and sought people’s consent when providing support.

People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. They treated them as individuals and supported their preferences. People had choice in their care and staff responded to people in a timely way. The provider supported staff wellbeing.

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and felt involved in making decisions about the service. Managers were receptive to feedback, with staff given the time and resources to try new ideas.

People's experience of the service

Updated 1 December 2025

People and those important to them spoke positively about the quality of care provided. They told us the new management team had made a number of improvements and the service had a positive, welcoming and homely atmosphere. People and relatives told us managers were friendly and approachable and they felt listened to.

Comments included, “Any troubles I know [manager’s] door is open”, “I have nothing but praise for them, the manager listens, the staff are much happier and I see that they are different in a good way”, “They are all so welcoming and we can visit at any time”, “[Person] has developed a good relationship with staff and they have given them a sense of purpose”, “It is being run for the residents” and “They really help people, they love the people there, they know all our names because we are all family. It is the way they make you feel, like you are part of their family.”

People told us they felt safe and relatives told us they had no concerns about people’s safety. We received positive feedback about the kind, caring and compassionate attitude of staff.

Comments included, “I know that I don’t have to go there every day and that [person] is being looked after”, “[Person] is being cared for so well”, “[Person] is very safe, it is almost a vertical trajectory in their improvement”, “I can categorically say that [person] is safe and happy” and “Staff are so kind and caring and gentle in their communications. It is genuine warmth and care.”

People and relatives spoke about the improvement in activities and engagement in the local community and the positive impact this had on people’s wellbeing.

Comments included, “I went to the carol singing and it was wonderful, I like the therapy dog, there is really enough to do”, “The activities co-ordinator is amazing”, “[Person] is joining in a lot and they gently encourage them” and “[Person] has been to the dementia choir and visits to the garden centre, which they love.”

Some people could not directly tell us about their experience. We used a structured observation tool to assess whether they received good care. This approach showed us staff were kind and caring in their interactions and were prompt to respond to people’s needs to minimise any distress or delay.