Elm Tree Court - Care Home

Updated 14 December 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience also made calls to relatives the following day. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Elm Tree Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Elm Tree Court is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we had about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 7 people who use the service and 10 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 9 staff including the operations manager, the registered manager, the housekeeper, 2 activity co-ordinators and 6 care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 care records and multiple medication records. We looked at other records relating to the management of the service including recruitment, supervision, and systems for monitoring quality.

Updated 14 December 2023

About the service

Elm Tree Court – Care home is a residential care home divided into 3 bungalows, providing personal care up to a maximum of 72 people. The service provides support to older people, people with dementia and younger adults. At the time of our inspection there were 70 people using the service.

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

Effective safeguarding systems were in place. Safeguarding concerns were managed consistently and promptly. All staff had an awareness and understanding of abuse and felt comfortable raising concerns.

Systems were in place to record, store and receive medicines. Staff were trained and supported in their role to administer medicines. Risk assessments were person centred and contained enough information to guide staff in their practice.

There was enough competent staff across the service to meet people’s needs. Recruitment was managed effectively. Staff understood their roles in raising concerns and reporting accidents and incidents. Lessons were learned and communicated to support improvement in the service.

Some decorating and minor re-refurbishment work was required. However, infection, prevention, and control was managed well. Staff were trained and understood their responsibilities for maintaining high standards of cleanliness.

The registered manager and staff created a positive culture, that was person centred and empowering. Staff spoke positively about the registered manager and senior team.

The provider monitored performance and risk in the service to promote and deliver quality improvements. Staff were fully engaged in the quality improvement plan and understood their role in driving improvements in the service.

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.

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 25 April 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service and due to the length of time since the service was last inspected.

You can read the report from out last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Elm Tree Court – Care home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.