Apple Tree

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.

This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated good.

This meant the service was consistently managed and well-led. Leaders and the culture they created promoted high-quality, person-centred care

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider had a shared vision, strategy and culture.

There was a clear focus from all to provide a high-quality service for people. Leaders and all staff had adopted the philosophy and culture of the service and created a person centred, safe and individual environment for people to live in.

There were processes in place that were emphasised and continually reviewed to ensure the service promoted a positive culture for both staff and the people they supported. Staff embedded the providers ethos of ‘The difference that defines us’ by continually working with people to make the service individual. Staff were happy to be part of the team that created a positive environment for people to live and thrive in.

Leaders had the skills, knowledge, experience and credibility to lead effectively. They did so with integrity, openness and honesty.

Although they raised no concerns, relatives commented on the turnover of managers in the home and felt a more consistent approach would be beneficial. We found any changes to mangers had not impacted on the care or support people received.

There was a manger in place who was in the process of registering with us. There were systems in place to ensure staff and the manager understood their roles and responsibilities

The provider fostered a positive culture where people felt they could speak up, and their voice would be heard.

No concerns were shared with us and relatives confirmed they knew how to complain. One relative said, “I would go to the manager if anything wasn’t right.” The feedback we received and reviewed about the home was all positive.

There was a whistleblowing policy in place and staff were aware of this and the procedures they needed to follow. Staff felt able to report any concerns and confirmed they would be supported during any such time.

The provider valued diversity in their workforce.

Staff felt they were treated in an inclusive way, and their diverse needs were considered. Staff spoke positively about their experiences and shared that it was a good place to work. One staff member told us, “It’s a good place to work, we are a good team, and everyone is happy here.” There were processes in place to consider staffs individual needs.

The provider had clear responsibilities, roles, systems of accountability and good governance.

There were audits in place which monitored the care people received, including the safety of the environment and the management of medicines. There was a system in place to monitor and review accidents and incidents that had occurred. Provider audits were also completed and shared with the registered manger to ensure more robust oversight. All audits were effective in identifying areas of improvement and making changes where needed.

The provider understood their duty to collaborate and work in partnership, so services worked seamlessly for people.

There were systems in place to ensure the provider worked in partnership with other agencies and professionals to ensure care was safely delivered to people. As part of this assessment, we asked the Local Authority for feedback, they told us, “We have completed the quality assurance visit and found the service to be person‑centred and responsive to residents’ needs. Care plans were detailed, aligned with residents’ assessed needs, and reviewed regularly. The service manages behaviours that challenge effectively, learns from incidents, and embeds improvements into practice.”

The provider focused on continuous learning, innovation and improvement across the organisation and local system.

The systems in place were used to continually make changes and drive improvements throughout the home. For example, when incidents had occurred, the leadership team ensured lessons were learnt from this.