Archived: Elmbridge Residential Home Limited

Updated 16 December 2020

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

This inspection took place on 23 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 16 December 2020

About the service

Elmbridge Residential Home Limited is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation to 16 people who live with dementia and mental health needs. At the time of the inspection 15 people were receiving support in one adapted building.

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

People were supported to remain safe and they told us they felt safe. Arrangements were in place to protect people from potential abuse and discrimination. Risks to people’s health and from the environment around them were identified and action taken to reduce or mitigate these risks. People’s medicines were managed safely, and people given support to take their medicines as prescribed. The home was staffed in such a way so that people’s needs, and the needs of the home generally were met. Staff were provided with support and training to be able to look after people appropriately and safely.

We recommended that staff be updated in relation to two areas of current best practice and guidance. The registered manager responded to this recommendation by seeking information about additional learning for staff.

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. People who lacked mental capacity to make decisions regarding their care and accommodation were protected against unlawful care as staff adhered to the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People had access to social care and health care professionals; specialist support and advice was sought when needed to support people’s wellbeing. Collaborative working with healthcare professionals also ensured people’s health needs were reassessed as required. People received appropriate help to eat and drink and specific risks associated with people’s nutrition were identified and acted on.

People’s care was delivered in a caring way by a staff team who knew people’s needs, behaviours, likes and dislikes well. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained. Staff supported people’s independence when it was safe and appropriate to do so by weighing up the risks and benefits to people in different circumstances. Staff provided personalised care to people. Family and friends were welcomed, and staff valued the positive additional support this could bring to people’s lives.

Care plans outlined people’s care support needs, and these were reviewed regularly to ensure the care planned for people remained relevant to their needs.

There were arrangements in place for people, their relatives and other visitors to the home such as professionals to raise a complaint and have this responded to. Thought was being given to how best make people and their relatives more aware of the home’s complaints procedure. Ideas included within a home brochure, to be given on admission. Complaint guidance was however on display in the front hall.

People were supported to take part in activities when they felt able to do this. These were predominantly on a one to one basis although some group activities and social events were enjoyed. Opportunities for people to get out and enjoy the wider community had increased in 2019 and this had improved people’s wellbeing.

The service was well managed by a registered manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission. Regulatory requirements were met, and staff were aware of their individual responsibilities. The registered manager monitored the quality of the service provided to people to ensure the standard of care and working culture met with their expectations. Staff worked as a team and reflected on practice and situations to identify areas for further learning and improvement. There were arrangements in place for people, their relatives and other visitors to the home to feedback their views, ideas and suggestions. Plans were in place to formally gather feedback from these groups as part of the service’s quality monitoring action for 2019.

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 (last report published 7 March 2018).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about one person’s care; this person no longer lived at the home. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine the care of other people who lived at the home to ensure they were in receipt of safe and appropriate care.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm. Please see Is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.