Updated 30 March 2022
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This included checking the provider was meeting COVID-19 vaccination requirements. 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
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors and two Experts by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. One Expert by Experience contacted people’s relatives and friends by telephone to request their feedback and one Experts by Experience met and spoke with people living at the home.
Service and service type
Elmhurst Residential Home 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. Elmhurst Residential Home is a care home without nursing 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
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We looked at formal notifications that the service had sent to the CQC. Notifications are information that registered persons are required to tell us about by law that may affect people’s health and wellbeing.
One Expert by Experience contacted relatives of people living at the home to gather their feedback on the quality of care people received. This exercise took place on 26 January 2022 and we spoke with 12 relatives.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with eight people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and the activity co-ordinator. We undertook observations of people receiving care to help us understand their experiences, especially for those people who could not talk with us.
We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s care records and seven people's medication records. We looked at six staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance and health and safety were also reviewed.
After the inspection
We spoke with the head of care, a team leader, a senior carer, two care staff, the cook and the laundry assistant. We further reviewed five care plans and associated records. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.